Lower Your Skin Cancer Risk, Wear Sunscreen
Children need the outdoors as much as we adults do. I am a huge believer in outdoor time. And as a gardener I am often outdoors with the children either helping me in the garden or just running around. Being a good parent we are aware that it is our place to protect our child from the sun and rays.
Did you know that just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life? or that A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any age. Or that ninety percent of pediatric melanoma cases occur in girls aged 10-19. Neither did I until I checked out the Skin Cancer Foundation.
A few things to do to avoid sunburn
Seek shade
Wear a hat
Wear sunglasses
Cover up as much as possible
Wear sunscreen
All persons should wear sunscreen it does not matter on the your nationality.
Asian American and African American melanoma patients have a greater tendency than Caucasians to present with advanced disease at time of diagnosis.
The average annual melanoma rate among Caucasians is about 22 cases per 100,000 people. In comparison, African Americans have an incidence of one case per 100,000 people. However, the overall melanoma survival rate for African Americans is only 77 percent, versus 91 percent for Caucasians.
While melanoma is uncommon in African Americans, Latinos, and Asians, it is frequently fatal for these populations. These facts are from the Skin Cancer Foundation
So ready to choose your sunscreen? How do you choose? What should you be looking for?
The Sun Screen that you choose should have the following characteristics. The spf should be at least 15 to 30. The protection should be broad spectrum UVA and UVB. Water resistant, hyper allergenic and fragrance free are also a few things to look for in your sunscreen.
Make sure that you reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours or so. It is also suggested that it be PABA free. Use sunscreen even if it is cloudy outside and apply before you see signs of sunburn. Seek a balance with the application of sunscreen so that you do not over nor under apply. Avoid being in the sun for prolonged times when it’s highest overhead and therefore the strongest (normally from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM in the northern hemisphere). Quite often the sunscreen you choose for your child is one you can wear also. Take care while you garden or just play outside.
Lower Your Skin Cancer Risk, Wear Sunscreen
