Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/695682
BEING SUNSAFE MEANS being sun-smart. Keep the acronym SUN SAFE in mind when you're sitting in the sun. SPF. Make sunscreen your best friend this summer and you'll never get burned. Using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher will protect your skin and help prevent skincancer. Don't forget to add rub it all the way to the edges of your clothes. Under cover. Wearing long sleeves and pants may not be your idea of cooling o this summer, but it's important to keep your skin covered with light, loose clothing, hats, and sun visors. Hold a shirt up to the sun; if you can see through the material, then the sun's dangerous rays can sneak through to your skin. No noon. "While it may be fun for kids to run around in the sun, the sun's rays are strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.," says Linda Schilling, MSN, ARNP, Nurse Practitioner specializing in dermatology at Mercy Medical Center-Centerville. "If you can avoid the sun at these times, you'll be more likely to avoid the risk of sunburn." Super shade. If you have to be outside, stay under the shielding of an umbrella or shady tree. Any age. Think skin cancer is for the older population? Not true. While skin cancer generally appears after age 50, people in their 20s and 30s can develop it as well. Fair skin. There are a number of risk factors that make a person more susceptible to skin cancer. Having fair skin, a history of sunburns, excessive sun exposure, sunny climates and moles playa role in skin cancer. In addition, certain hereditary factors put a person more at risk, for instance, a personal or family historyof skin cancer. Ears, cheeks, nose. And shoulders, too. These are the parts of the body most likely to get sunburn. Make sure to apply extra sunscreen to these areas. SPOT SKIN CANCER Let's get this straight: The best way to prevent skin cancer is to practice sun protection. But how do you know when your skin needs medical care? The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, including a small growth; a sore that bleeds, crusts over, heals, then reopens; a change in an existing mole; or the development of a new (suspicious-looking) mole. You don't need a global positioning system to gure out where skin cancer develops. Figure out the parts of your body that are exposed most frequently to the sun, like your scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest or arms. Skin cancer seldom causes pain, so don't wait until you start hurting to nd out what's going on in your skin. Report any mysterious-looking areas to your doctor. Avoid Skin Cancer Nearly half of all Americans will develop a skin cancer lesion at least once by age 65. Did you know that protecting your skin today protects it from skin cancer tomorrow? It's true! This Summer If your shadow is shorter than you, stayin the shade. Helpful Hint: MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE OUR DERMATOLOGY SPECIALIST Linda Schilling, MSN,ARNP First, second and fourth Wednesday ofthemonth Mercy Specialty Clinic 641-437-3482 3 MERCY MEDICAL CENTERCENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org