OUR ANNUAL GUIDE TO WOMEN'S HEALTH
DO YOU AVOID SUN?
Here's Why You Should: Skin cancer,
the most common form of cancer in the United States, is usually caused by damage
to skin cells by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light. Do what you can year-round
to
avoid the sun for long periods, says Joshua L.
Fox, M.D., a New York City dermatologist.
"There's no such thing as a healthy tan."
Risk Reducers:Start a sunscreen habit. Apply sunscreen
of SPF 15 or more on your face and the back of your hands every morning, even on
cloudy days. (Up to 80 percent of the sun's rays can penetrate cloud cover.)
Reapply frequently if you're swimming or perspiring.
Cover up.
The National Cancer Institute
advises limiting your time outdoors when the amount of solar UV radiation is greatest,
usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you must be outside, sit in the shade.
Wear long-sleeved clothing if you can, a hat with a brim, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
THE REAL RISK
Researchers expect an increase in skin cancer cases as the
ozone layer thins. A 1999 study in the Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology reports that from 1973 to 1994, rates of malignant melanoma, the deadliest
form of skin cancer, increased 120.5 percent. It's important to make sure
children are protected; just one bad sunburn before age 16 increases the risk of
melanoma three to five times.
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