Protecting your skin

Most skin cancer can be prevented. Use of the following tips to protect your skin from the sun can decrease your chances of developing skin cancer and help prevent wrinkles.

• Limit your exposure to the sun, especially midday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Seek shady areas, and avoid direct sunlight.
• Wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants. Dark, tightly woven clothes are best.
• Wear sunglasses that block out ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• Use a sunscreen every day, all year, even when it is cloudy. A sunscreen should block ultraviolet rays (both UVA and UVB) and have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to 30. Apply sunscreen:
  
  
  • 30 minutes before going out into the sun.
  • Every 2 hours, and reapply after swimming.
• Use a higher sun protection factor (SPF) at higher elevations or in tropical climates.
• Be careful when you are on sand, snow, or water, because these surfaces can reflect 85% of the sun's rays.
• Don't stay out in the sun for long periods of time because you feel protected with sunscreen.
• Do not use tanning booths to get a tan. Artificial tanning devices can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Some people think that a tan protects against sunburn and therefore protects the skin from skin damage and skin cancer. A tan is itself a sign of sun damage (overexposure). For people who don't tan easily, the amount of sun exposure needed to try to get a tan can, by itself, cause skin damage and outweigh any possible benefit from having a tan.

Protecting your child's skin

It is estimated that 80% of your lifetime exposure to sunlight occurs before you are 20.

• Babies younger than 6 months should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Teach your child to protect his or her skin from the sun.
• Have your child wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and a hat when in the sun.
• Teach your child to use sunscreen.
  
  
  • Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 25 or 30.
  • Follow the instructions on the sunscreen.
  • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out into the sun.
  • Reapply the sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming, even if it is waterproof.