Wednesday, July 08, 2009
 
sponsored by Graue Inc.

HOPE Mobile offers protection from the sun

Send a link to a friend

[July 08, 2009]  To help raise awareness of the dangers of skin cancer and melanomas, the HOPE Mobile is passing out samples of sunscreen while supplies last in recognition of UV Safety Month.

Melanoma, a malignant tumor that originates in the cells that produce the pigment melanin, is the most serious form of skin cancer but is nearly 100 percent curable if recognized and treated early. If it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, there will be 8,420 fatalities in the U.S., 5,400 in men and 3,020 in women. The majority of melanomas are black or brown. However, some melanomas are skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white.

There are several ways to protect yourself from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays, and using a combinations of methods is usually most effective. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher in addition to the following skin cancer prevention tips.

  • Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

  • Do not burn.

  • Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.

  • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.

  • Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.

  • Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

  • Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of 6 months.

  • Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.

  • See your physician every year for a professional skin exam or when there is a change in an existing mole or freckle.

[to top of second column]

Auto Sales

"Be aware that there are several risk factors for skin cancer in addition to sun exposure, such as family history and skin type," says Margie Harris, assistant administrator and director of nursing at the Logan County Department of Public Health. "Also know that shade doesn't offer full protection from the sun, and you can get burned from UV rays even if you've been in the shade all day."

That's because indirect or diffuse ultraviolet light is radiation that has been scattered by the clouds and other elements in the atmosphere or bounced back from UV-reflective surfaces like dry sand or concrete. In fact, a large percentage of the ultraviolet light we receive while sitting under a tree or an umbrella is indirect. We can rely only on deep shade (where we cannot see the sky and no ultraviolet penetrates) to offer truly complete protection.

For more tips and information on skin cancer, go to www.skincancer.org.

The HOPE Mobile is a component of the Healthy Communities Partnership, a collaborative organization comprised of dozens of community agencies. It is supported in part by the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation.

[Text from file received from Healthy Communities Partnership]

< Top Stories index

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching and Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law and Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health and Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor