How to protect yourself against Melanoma
We're in the last hour of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month. I think May is a good time for this because June is the start of meteorological summer. Festivals, outdoor concerts, the beach, the pool, ballgames...lots of outdoor activities and lots of time in the sun. It's important to know how to protect yourself from the dangerous rays of the sun.
Here's some tips:
Wear sun protective clothing. That means long sleeves, hats and sunglasses. Let's be honest here...chances are you aren't wearing long sleeves to the beach. I understand that. Which makes this next tip more important.
Sunscreen...lots of sunscreen. The higher the SPF the better. Minimum of 30 rating. Don't be skimpy. Keep reapplying it.
Stay out of the sun at peak periods. The sun is most powerful between noon and five. I know those are the best hours. Do your best to protect yourself and look for shade.
Now for some tips that aren't sun related:
Do a monthly body check for moles. It helps if you know what to look for. The moles to be concerned about are asymmetrical, have more than one color and are the size of an eraser on a pencil.
See a dermatologist on a regular basis. You'll get a professional body check. Most Melanoma patients see one twice a year. That's a fair amount.
Finally...Stay out of tanning beds!!! The three exclamation marks indicates just how serious I am about this one. Nothing good can come from this. One time in a tanning bed increases your chances of Melanoma and the other skin cancers. Why risk it?
That's it for Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Enjoy your summer. As they used to say on Hill Street Blues "Let's roll, but let's be careful out there."
This is yesterdays piece about the danger of tanning beds.
Type your email address in the box and click the "create subscription" button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.