1. Use sunscreens every day. Choose those with a Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) of at least 15 and with both UVA and UVB protection. Making sunscreen
a regular part of your daily health ritual (brush your teeth and hair, put sunscreen
on sun-exposed areas-face, neck, and arms) will have a tremendous effect on lowering
your possibility of developing skin cancer.
2. Wear a hat. Sounds basic, but it helps. A hat with a wide brim covering
the neck, face, and ears goes a long way toward reducing the impact of the sun's
rays on the skin.
3. Wear protective clothing when possible.This might include shirts with sleeves
and tightly woven long pants. This is particularly important for people whose
work puts them in the sun during the hottest hours of the day.
4. Limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun's rays are the strongest.
This is a challenging precaution for many people, but it's a critical aspect of
reducing the incidence of skin cancers. This doesn't mean you need to stay
inside during this time-just that you should try to reduce the time spent under
the sun's strongest rays. Every minute in the sun has a harmful effect.
There's no such thing as a healthy tan.
5. Don't forget sunglasses. Sunglasses offer yet another strategy for
blocking the sun from the skin and eyes. Make sure to buy sunglasses that
protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Joshua Fox, M.D., is the Director of Advanced Dermatology P.C. and
The Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery in New York City.
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