The word of the day should be rubbed on your arms, smeared on
your legs, massaged into your scalp and shoulders. It should be
dabbed across the bridge of your nose, sloshed onto your hands and
feet, tickled onto your ears. In so doing, it becomes not merely a
word, but a lifesaver:
Sunscreen. "Sunscreen is a major technological revolution," says
Dr. Clay Cockerell, clinical professor of dermatology and pathology
at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
"It's the No. 1 tool we have for protecting your skin."
Sadly, most of us either aren't using it, aren't using enough or
are using it the wrong way. So if you're shrugging at this point,
as you head out the door into the sun, here are some dermatologist-
provided numbers that you might want to pay attention to:
One million: The number of skin cancer cases diagnosed each year
in the United States.
65,000: The number of those that are melanoma.
One per hour: Deaths from melanoma.
What's frustrating is that people know tanning is bad for them,
but they don't stop.
"Tanning is the social standard," says Dr. Jennifer Cather, a
Dallas dermatologist in private practice who is on the medical
staff of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. "My personal
thing is that I don't tan or use self-tanners because I want people
to see that pale is pretty. Look at Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole
Kidman."
Which leads us to a few more numbers.
Five: Number of years it takes for your skin to get totally back
to normal after a sunburn, Cockerell says.
20: Traditional number of years after exposure for skin cancer to
develop. Now, he says, "we're seeing teenagers getting melanoma
after going to tanning parlors for five years."
12: Age by which we get 80 percent of our lifetime sun exposure,
Cather says.
So with summer in full swing, here's some advice on protecting
yourself from those skin-toasting rays.
On sunscreen
How much?
Lots. A shot glass worth if you're going to be outside for a
while. If Labor Day rolls around and you still have sunscreen left
in the bottle you opened on Memorial Day, you didn't use nearly
enough.
How often?
"Nothing is waterproof," Cather says. "Everything has to be
applied every two hours. There's no such thing as 'all-day
protection.' "
Where?
Use it on all exposed skin, not just your face. Think ears, toes,
the place where your tank top meets your underarm. Men are
especially susceptible to melanomas on their backs, women on the
backs of their legs.
When?
Every time you walk out the door. Even if you're not going to the
beach or working as a camp counselor, harmful rays can hit your
skin when you stroll to the car or sit outside for lunch. Apply it
every day, several times a day.
What SPF?
Higher than you're probably using. "Sunscreen is instantly
diluted with your body's oils, and absorption takes place,"
Cockerell says. "You put on 15, you're probably only getting 10 to
12 immediately. When you start sweating, it goes down even further.
It can change to a 3 or 4 relatively quickly. I used to use SPF 30
and I'd get a tan through it. Now I use 85 or 90 and don't get a
tan at all."
On skin cancer
No race, nationality or skin color is immune.
African-Americans get skin cancer. So do Hispanics and other
people who aren't necessarily freckle-faced, red-haired and pale.
"They're lucky they don't have to be quite as careful," Cockerell
says. "But it's not a free ride for them either."
Check your body. Often.
"Look for the ugly ducklings, the (markings) that stand out from
the others," Cather says. "Does it have personality; is it itching,
bleeding or crusty?"
Schedule a skin check with a dermatologist.
"You need to point out what's changing on your skin," Cather
says. "People come in and ask me to look at things that are 1 to 2
millimeters that I wouldn't have taken off. I've been humbled. If
it's bothering you, point it out."
On tanning
It's as dangerous to skin as smoking is to your lungs.
"It's somewhat of an addiction," Cockerell says. "It causes the
endorphins to rise. There are literally those people who go to
tanning parlors six, seven days a week."
Set a good example.
"I see moms every day who are sunburned and their kids see that
and think it's OK," Cather says.
Healthy tan is an oxymoron.
"A tan on your skin is a sign of damage," Cockerell says. "It's
your body's response to injury. Tans aren't made to make you look
pretty; they're to protect from further UV light damage."
Take the sun seriously.
"People think, 'I have my sunscreen; I'm fine,'" Cockerell says.
"Use it, and take shade, too."
Avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wear protective
clothing and -- ideally -- a hat with a 3-inch brim. Cather has
seen clinic patients whose heads were covered with skin cancers
that a baseball cap would have prevented.
You don't need a tan to get enough vitamin D.
"I'm probably the poster child for protecting skin," Cockerell
says. "I wear 85 to 90 SPF sunscreen. People make fun of me for
wearing a broad-brimmed hat. I had my vitamin D levels tested and
they're normal. One of our concerns is that people will take this
as an excuse for tanning, and worsen their potential for getting
melanoma and skin cancer."
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