Year-Round Sunscreen Advice
October 27, 2011
If you only wear sunscreen during the long, hot days of summer, you may want to give some thought to year-round sunscreen use. The fact of the matter is that, while the intensity of ultraviolet B (UVB) rays weakens during the winter months, ultraviolet A (UVA) rays remain constant throughout the year. UVA rays are about 30-50 times more prevalent than UVB rays, and although they are less responsible for sunburn than UVB rays, they do contribute to the development of skin cancer. Moreover, longer-wavelength UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin than shorter-wavelength UVB rays, and the damage that UVA rays produce causes skin to lose elasticity, resulting in wrinkles, sagging, and brown spots, the classic signs of aging.
P.S. Even on cloudy days, about 80 percent of both UVA and UVB rays penetrate the cloud cover and reach your skin.
Half of All US Cancers are Skin Cancers
October 18, 2011
If you’re not already aware that skin cancer is approaching epidemic status, you should know that new skin cancer cases exceed those of breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers annually. About one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime. Thus, it is very important to not only have the dermatologist conduct regular skin cancer screenings, but to also self-check, particularly if you have 50 or more moles. Other factors that increase skin cancer risk include having a parent, child, or sibling who had skin cancer; having red or blonde hair, blue or green eyes, or a tendency to sunburn easily; a history of three or more sunburns before the age of 20; and lots of freckles.
P.S. Skin cancer does not only occur on areas regularly exposed to the sun, so be sure to examine your entire body in front of a full-length mirror.
The Villages Office