Sunburn, Skin Spots, & Skin Cancer – With the brightest days of the year here in full swing, taking care of your skin has never been more important. (Did you know your skin is the largest organ? Now you do.) Learn how to prevent sunburn, skin spots, & skin cancer right here on Newsymom!

This is Public Health is brought to you in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.

Summer is here in full swing! With the sun brightly shining away all traces of “Winter Blues”, it’s never been more important to take precautions to prevent our skin from getting old or damaged. In fact, if we don’t take care of our body during these sunny months, we could get:

• Sunburn
• Skin aging (skin spots, wrinkles, or leathery skin)
• Eye damage
• Skin cancer (The most common cancer out there!)

Skin cancer is on the rise here in the U.S. An estimated 1.3 million people were walking around with melanoma. About 4.3 million people are treated for basal cell cancer and squamous cell skin cancer in the U.S. every year, according to a report from the Office of the Surgeon General. (Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun: From Sunscreen to Sunglasses, FDA.gov)

So, How Do We Prevent It?

Since sun damage is caused by invisible UV radiation, we can reduce our risk by practicing the following tips, whether it’s sunny or cloudy:

• • Limit our sun-time, especially when the sun’s most potent rays are out (somewhere in the realm of 10a-2p).
  • Wear sun-protective clothing or long-sleeved shirts and pants to cover as much of your skin as you comfortably can.
  • Wide-brimmed hats are SUPER in style & provide greater protection from the sun.
  • Using broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. (At least SPF 15 or higher! Contact your child’s healthcare professional before applying any sunscreen if you have an infant under six months old.)
  • Wear sunglasses that have a UV400 rating or “100% UV Protection” on the label! That gorgeous sand, water, or (during the winter) snow is putting your eyes at risk by bouncing the sun’s rays right to ya!
  • Pro tip: Just because glasses are tinted doesn’t mean they provide UV protection!

How to Correctly Apply Sunscreen*

• Apply your sunscreen liberally to all uncovered skin including:
  • Ears
  • Nose
  • Neck
  • Hands
  • Feet
  • Lips
• Reapply every two hours, more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming! (No sunscreen is waterproof!)
• If you’re sporting the bald look, make sure to apply to that beautiful, glistening head of yours.

*No sunscreen completely blocks out radiation. Combine use of sunscreen with the above prevention tips for the best protection!

With all these tips, you’re going to rock the beaches and local pools in your finest swimwear, free of wrinkles and skin cancer!

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The Tuscarawas County Health Department has all the tips to keep your family healthy this summer! Keep following along on Facebook (@tchdnow) for regular updates and visit online at www.tchdnow.org to see what other services they offer you and your family.

Melissa Klatt

Reporting