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Sunscreen: Important Weapon in the WAR Against Skin Cancer
Before you head out the door
this summer, don't forget
the most important item to
have outside: sunscreen.
"Your skin always needs protection
from the sun, even on cloudy days,"
says Aron Gornish, M.D., a general
surgeon at Ocean Medical Center.
The sun's rays contain two kinds of
damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA
and UVB.
Experts now suspect that both
types cause skin damage over time.
"The result of this damage is wrinkled,
leathery skin, as well as skin
cancer," cautions Dr. Gornish. "Both
kinds of UV rays also may damage
the immune system."
Sunscreen Savvy
Experts now recommend daily, yearround
use of sunscreens that block
both UVB and UVA rays. "An easy
way to do this is to use sunscreencontaining
skin care products, such as
lotion and lip balm," says Dr. Gornish.
Here are other tips for choosing
skin-saving products:
- Check the label. Start by selecting
a sunscreen with a sun protection
factor (SPF) of at least 15. Dr.
Gornish recommends sunblock that
includes titanium dioxide or zinc
oxide because they offer even stronger
protection than sunscreens.
- Cream, lotion, or gel? "A cream
or lotion product is recommended
for dry skin. Alcohol- or gel-based
sunscreens work better for oily skin
types," says Dr. Gornish. "People
with inflamed skin or eczema,
however, should not use alcoholbased
sunscreens."
- Just for kids. Use lotions made
specifically for children, and avoid
alcohol-based products. "I recommend
an SPF of 30 for children
who will be spending most of the
day outside," notes Dr. Gornish."But don't use sunscreen on infants
younger than 6 months of age."
- Slather it on. For protection against
extended exposure, apply sunscreen
liberally at least 30 minutes before
going out. Reapply often — every
two hours — even if the label says
"water-resistant" or "all-day."
From Prot ection to Detection
A few studies have linked the use
of sunscreen to increased occurrence
of skin cancer. "That's because many
sunscreen users are prolonging their
exposure to the sun in the incorrect
belief that sunscreen provides
all the protection they need from
skin cancer," explains Dr. Gornish.
"But sunscreen use is only one
strategy in a three-pronged approach
to skin protection."
Experts warn that we should wage WAR on skin cancer year-round:
- Wear protective clothing.
- Avoid midday sun.
- Regularly use sunscreen.
"It's also incredibly important
for people to supplement their skin
protection with periodic skin exams,"
says Dr. Gornish. "Skin cancers,
including melanoma, are highly
visible to qualified health professionals
and can be detected at the earliest and
most curable stages. You can call us
for a list of qualified dermatologists in
your area."
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