聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Know your ABCDs. You may have lots of little spots on your skin, possibly because you got too much sun some years ago. Most of them are harmless, but watch out for these warning signs: Asymmetry 鈥� a mole that鈥檚 not round; Border 鈥� The border is irregular with jagged edges, not smooth; Colour 鈥� the colour can be uneven or unusual colours; Diameter 鈥� it鈥檚 larger than the width of a pea or a pencil eraser. Show your doctor any skin blemish that has any of these characteristics.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It鈥檚 important to know your skin and the signs of skin cancer. If you notice any unusual moles or marks on your skin, watch them closely. The most common skin cancers (basal and squamous cell) can look like a small, skin-coloured or red knob. The more dangerous melanoma usually begins as a mole that seems to change colour or size.
Protect them while they鈥檙e young
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Skin cancer is usually caused by the skin鈥檚 exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The more sun you鈥檙e exposed to over your lifetime, the higher your risk of developing cancer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It鈥檚 estimated that up to 80 percent of a person鈥檚 total exposure to the sun happens before 18 years of age. Because of this, it鈥檚 good to teach children healthy sun habits from the start. One serious sunburn in childhood can increase future cancer risk by as much as 50 percent.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Babies under six months old are especially susceptible to the glare of sunshine and should be kept out of the sun completely. They鈥檙e too young for sunscreen, so keep the baby in the shade and covered as much as possible. Don鈥檛 forget that the sun can reflect off shiny surfaces and swimming pools, so keep babies well shaded from all directions at all times.
No such thing as a healthy tan
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There is a common myth that if a person tans well, they鈥檙e protected from these harmful rays. Not true! While it is true that fair-haired, blue-eyed people are most prone to burning, and therefore are more susceptible to the sun鈥檚 rays, even 鈥渉ealthy鈥� tans are really just damage control 鈥� they鈥檙e your body鈥檚 way of trying to protect itself from the sun. But, the damage is already done and can鈥檛 be reversed. Years of sun worshipping, be it outside or in a tanning salon, will eventually show up later on in life as wrinkles, poor skin elasticity, and possibly skin cancer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The sun, however, is also very important to our health. It provides us with vitamin D (which we need for our bones), and it can lift our spirits. In fact, there鈥檚 a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) that can happen when there鈥檚 more darkness than daylight 鈥� those experiencing SAD feel 鈥渄own鈥� during the winter months and much better when summer comes. So, staying holed up deep inside isn鈥檛 the way to go either.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Moderation and good sense is key. The goal is to have fun outside, but to stay safe at the same time:
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Cover up when possible
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Wear a hat
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go out, even if the sun doesn鈥檛 seem particularly strong or is cloudy out.
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Avoid the sun when it鈥檚 at its strongest: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If you are applying other products to the skin, double check with your pharmacist about which product to use first. For example, insect repellents should be applied at least 15 minutes after applying sunscreen.
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If you use prescription medications, such as certain skin creams or blood pressure medications, check to see if they can make you more sensitive to the sun. If you鈥檙e not sure, ask your pharmacist.
Treating a sunburn
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Apply cool, wet compresses for 24 to 48 hours
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Don鈥檛 apply skin creams within the first two days
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Drink a lot of water to keep from feeling dehydrated
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 You can use over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if there is some minor pain or discomfort due to the burn.
Very severe burns, the kind that produce blisters, are often treated in clinics with dressings. If you鈥檙e not sure if your burn is severe, have it checked. Do not break burn blisters yourself, as this can lead to a skin infection if not properly treated.
