ask el doctor
Stay Safe in the Sun
Feature Courtesy of Dr . Robert . J . Casañas To email Dr . Casañas , please email : AskElDoctor @ thelatinvillage . com
( CL ) — Disregarding health advisories when sun bathing can be very dangerous . Each year , 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States alone , making skin cancer the most common form of cancer in the country . What ’ s more , better than 90 percent of those cases stem from overexposure to the sun . That only adds to the importance of exercising caution and heeding the Skin Cancer Foundation ’ s advice when heading outside .
• Be careful early . Beachgoers love to get to the beach early and claim the best spots the beach has to offer . Unfortunately , the sun ’ s rays are most damaging between the hours of 10 a . m . and 4 p . m . Whenever outdoors during those hours , seek out the shaded areas or create your own shade , using beach umbrellas and / or wide-brimmed hats .
• Avoid tanning booths . You can still get a golden , natural-looking tan even if you stop going to the tanning booths or behave more cautiously when outside . The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) recognizes sunless tanning products containing dihydroxyacetone ( DHA ) as safe . It ’ s important to note DHA is the only color additive approved by the FDA . DHA works by reacting with dead cells in the outermost layer of the skin , temporarily darkening the skin ’ s appearance . Many tanning salons offer spray booths , and a spray-on tan lasts for an average of five days while offering safety that tanning booths and sun exposure cannot provide .
• Cover up . Sunburns don ’ t only come in the peak of the beach season . Rather , many people suffer sunburns in spring , fall and even winter . That ’ s potentially very dangerous , as the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that a person ’ s risk for skin cancer doubles when they have had five or more sunburns . Be sure to cover up this fall whenever heading out into the sun . Just because the temperature outside isn ’ t hot , that doesn ’ t make the sun ’ s rays any less harmful . Check the UV rating on a daily basis as well .
• Wear sunglasses . The sun cannot only burn your skin but do damage to your eyes as well . UV-blocking sunglasses will protect your eyes from the sun while also making it easier to see .
• Keep kids covered . Newborns have particularly sensitive skin and should never be exposed to the sun . Once a child has reached the age of six months , apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF ( sun-protection factor ) of 15 before going out in the sun . Parents should strongly consider sunscreen with an SPF higher than 15 for young children as well .
• Get checked . Like any form of cancer , how early skin cancer is detected can determine how effective treatment can be . If you spend significant time out in the sun each year , be it in spring , fall , summer , or winter , make sure to make an annual visit to your physician for a skin exam . While you should examine your skin for moles or other signs each month , your physician will know better than anyone what to look for .
This feature brought to you by Dr . Robert Casañas . To learn more about skin care , or have some type of medical question , please contact Dr . Roberto Casañas at AskEl- Doctor @ thelatinvillage . com
May - july 2008 | LATIN TIMES MAGAZINE 13