| Sara spends much of her summer near the | | | | recommended even when wearingsunscreen. |
| beach. She lives in amild climate and is very | | | | Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water |
| athletic. She loves to swim, bike andplay games | | | | andshould always be applied every two hours or |
| outdoors. Sara knows the dangers of the sun and | | | | after getting wet. |
| so sheopts for tanning salons to get her 'golden | | | | MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will |
| glow' while being sureto apply sunscreen every | | | | Protect You |
| day before heading out. | | | | Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to |
| Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. The | | | | develop. The Skin |
| summers can bevery humid, but most of the | | | | Cancer Foundation states that most people |
| year is mild or even below freezingduring the | | | | receive about 80percent of their lifetime sun |
| harshest winter months. The beach has never | | | | exposure before the age of 18. |
| been muchof a draw for him and he spends most | | | | Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is |
| of his time doing indooractivities or at his job. | | | | estimated to doublethe risk of melanoma later in |
| Joseph doesn't worry about sunscreenand only | | | | life. Taking better care now willreduce the risk, but |
| had one sunburn that he can remember and that | | | | not eliminate the damage already done. |
| was whenhe was a child. | | | | MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means You're More |
| Which of these examples do you most associate | | | | Protected |
| yourself with? Didyou know that Sara and Joseph | | | | Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop |
| are both at risk of developing skincancer? We | | | | cancer, buttanned skin is actually damaged skin. |
| have all heard the warnings about the dangers of | | | | Repeated tanning injuresthe skin and increases the |
| sunexposure. We know all about the importance | | | | risk of skin cancer. |
| of wearing sunscreenand hats. But are YOU | | | | MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned on Overcast |
| protected from skin cancer? Consider thesemyths | | | | Days |
| and facts: | | | | Just because the sun is hidden by some cloud |
| MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun | | | | does not mean thatyou don't need protection |
| 20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is | | | | from the harmful effects of the suns rays. |
| roughly equivalent tofour hours in the sun. | | | | So how do you plan to protect your family this |
| Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVBrays, | | | | year? Somesuggestions are to limit exposure to |
| 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states that "UV-A | | | | the sun - especially forinfants. Examine your skin |
| penetrates moredeeply into the skin than UV-B, | | | | for early signs of damage. Use asunscreen of SPF |
| can cause skin cancer, and maysuppress the | | | | 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 |
| immune system." | | | | minutesbefore exposure and every two hours |
| MYTH TWO: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is | | | | after that. Teach yourchildren good safety habits |
| Protection | | | | and be sure you and they are coveredup when |
| 85 percent of UV rays can even make it through | | | | outdoors. Have fun and be safe. |
| on cloudy days. | | | | The information contained in this article is for |
| That means you are equally at risk in the car, | | | | educational purposesonly and is not intended to |
| walking the dog orletting your children out to play | | | | medically diagnose, treat or cure anydisease. |
| at any time of year - even whenyou're not at | | | | Consult a health care practitioner before beginning |
| the beach. Of course, you are usually less | | | | anyhealth care program. |
| attiredat the beach and so covering up is | | | | |