Jaclyn Franks

By JACLYN FRNKS, MPH
HHS Extension Educator, Purdue Extension, Kosciusko County

WARSAW — The weather has been getting warmer, the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and baseball season is in full swing. If you are anything like me, you can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the spring weather.

Along with our increased time spent outdoors comes an increased risk for our skin to become damaged by the sun’s rays. A current estimate from the American Academy of Dermatology states that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and, on average, one American dies from melanoma every hour.

The major risk factor of developing melanoma or other types of skin cancers is exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or artificial sources. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Here are some tips to have safe fun in the sun this spring and summer:

• Seek shade: You can reduce your risk of skin damage by seeking shade when you are outside.
• Cover up with clothing: Long-sleeved shirts and pants can provide protection from UV rays. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection.
• Grab your hat: For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears and back of your neck.
• Sport the shades: Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays as well as protect the skin around your eyes from sun exposure.  Look for sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays for the best protection.
• Wear that sunscreen: Put on broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 before you go outside. Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting or scatting sunlight to protect the skin from UV rays. Each sunscreen has a sun protection factor. Higher SPF numbers indicate more protection. Be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming, sweating or toweling off.    
• Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds: There is no such thing as a healthy suntan. Any change in your natural skin color is a sign of sun damage.
• Use extra caution near water, snow and sand: Water, snow and sand can reflect incoming UV rays, making it especially important to take sun safety seriously in these environments.

One of these tips is often not enough to offer complete protection from the sun’s harmful rays. The CDC recommends taking as many of the above action steps as you can to thoroughly protect yourself.

Wishing you a safe and sunny spring and summer. For more information on sun safety, visit the CDC or American Academy of Dermatology or contact Jackie Franks at [email protected] or (574) 372-2340.