Skin Cancer: Prevention is Key

By: Kenneth Surr

Skin cancer is on the rise. While skin cancers usually affect Caucasians, outside workers, smoker,s and those with a family history of skin cancer, everyone is at risk. Statistics demonstrate that the cases of skin cancer have doubled every decade over the past forty years, and we need to take action how to prevent skin cancer from affecting us.

There are several types of skin cancer, two of which can be quite lethal if left unattended. That's why it's so important to adhere to the following skincare tips. Some of the following information has been provided by NHS Direct Online, the world's largest healthcare organization.

Taking care in the sun is the best way to protect your skin from developing cancer. First and foremost, do not allow your skin to burn. The damage is done as soon as the skin becomes burned, so cover up with sunscreen and loose fitting clothing.

In addition to skin cancer, heat stroke is another serious health concern caused by overexposure to the sun. You can help to prevent heat stroke by wearing loose-fitting clothes and drinking plenty of water to replace what's lost through perspiration. Be sure to cover your arms and legs if possible.

Tightly woven fabrics will provide the best protection from the sun. It's also important to avoid exposure to direct sunlight during the afternoon hours. The sun is at its strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you must go outside during these times, be sure to cover up with clothes, wear a hat and sunglasses, and apply plenty of sunscreen.

You should always use a sun protection lotion with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Children, people who live in constant exposure to the hot sun and fair-skinned people should choose a lotion with an SPF of up to 40.

Your entire body should be covered by your sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. While it's always necessary to cover your exposed areas including the face, neck, feet and hands, don't forget the other areas that may be exposed. Remember, the most vulnerable parts of your body are those that are not normally touched by the sun.

You also should apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun and then apply it every couple of hours, as sweat and friction against towels for example will cause it to wear off. Also reapply right after swimming, even if your lotion says it is of a waterproof variety.

If you plan on being in the water, it's even more important to use a high SPF sunscreen. The sun's UVA and UVB rays are able to reach you even through two feet of water. Fog and clouds will not stop these damaging rays, either. While the ozone layer used to provide this protection for us, the damage that we've caused with pollution means that UV protection is now up to us.

Even on cloudy days, it's important to cover up with SPF 15, put on a hat and wear sunglasses that have UVA and UVB filters. The sun's rays can damage the retinas of the eyes and ultimately create cataracts, so it's important to protect yourself today to avoid future disease and discomfort.

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Kenneth Surr loves writing for several web sites, on health article and woman health issues.
This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

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