Save Yourself From Skin Cancer

Did you know May is Skin Cancer Awareness month? Many of us do not take skin cancer seriously enough. There are still people out there who go out without any sunscreen, or who use tanning beds regularly (you know who you are!). Let’s face it folks, there is no such thing as a ’safe tan’. You may think a little extra ‘colour’ makes you look better or “healthier” but in reality you’re only hurting yourself and your skin.

(Image: Newscom)

Here are some Skin Cancer Facts you may or may not know:

* Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed annually.
* Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
* One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
* Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two major forms of non-melanoma skin cancer. Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have either skin cancer at least once.
* About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
* Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.

Those wrinkles you’re trying to hide? They’re probably caused by being in the sun for too long without protection! Do yourself and your skin a favour and remember these simple guidelines from the Skin Cancer Foundation website:

* Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
* Do not burn.
* Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
* Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
* Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
* Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
* Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
* Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
* See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

If you want a little ‘glow’ don’t tan, check out the numerous bronzers and self-tanners on the market today. It’s better to be pale than look like a wrinkled prune. Embrace your pale and pasty self!