April 18--With warmer temperatures come the urge to spend more time outside -- and the need to take precautions against sun exposure and heat exhaustion.
As weather forecasts continue to improve, those who go out in the sun should take care to protect their skin and stay cool, medical professionals say.
"The main things are just staying hydrated and making sure you're getting plenty of fluids," said Dr. Dennis Blankenship, director of emergency medicine at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center.
It's also important to protect skin from the sun's rays, as overexposure can increase the risk for skin cancer, said Dr. Douglas Vaughn, a dermatologist at the OSU Medical Center.
Radiation damage is cumulative, so those who use tanning beds or get frequent sunburns are at a higher risk for cancers such as melanoma, he said.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and more than 58,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma in 2007. Nearly 8,500 people died from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaughn suggests covering skin with clothes whenever possible and applying sunscreen with at least 45 SPF every two hours.
Using a tanning bed to try to acclimate the skin to prevent a sunburn during a tropical vacation or other event with the potential for a lot of sun exposure is a bad idea, Vaughn said.
"That's really not a practical approach," he said.
Instead, wear a wide-brimmed hat, wraparound sunglasses and sunscreen whenever spending time outside, he said.
The most hazardous time of day is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the CDC.
Babies younger than 6 months should not be exposed to the sun at all, but sunscreen is safe for all other ages, Vaughn said.
Heat exhaustion is another concern and is particularly common when daily temperatures first start to increase. Even people who are used to working or exercising outside should take the time to acclimate to the season, Blankenship said.
Take breaks, spend time in air conditioning and drink plenty of water to stay safe, he said.
"Take it easy until your body resets its internal thermostat," he said.
Older and younger people are particularly susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, he said.
Anyone who feels light-headed or achy should get into an air-conditioned building and begin drinking cool liquids such as water and sports drinks.
Someone who has stopped sweating and is acting confused should go to a hospital, Blankenship said.
Sunscreen tips
--Look for sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, containing the ingredients zinc oxide, titanium oxide and avobenzone (or parsol 1789).
--The American Cancer Society recommends an SPF of 15 or higher. The higher the SPF number, the greater the protection.
--There is no true "waterproof" sunscreen.
--Apply about a palmful of sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun, remembering your face, neck, ears, lower legs, feet and hands.
--Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you are swimming or sweating.
Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health
Shannon Muchmore 918-581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
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