Screenings to promote skin health

June 05--Summer is here. Time for barbecues, beaches and water sports.

It is also time to do your family a favor and focus on every day sun safety.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, five million people a year are treated for skin cancer at a cost of more than $8 billion. That accounts for the 72,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year and the 9,000 deaths from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Georgia has a melanoma rate 13 percent higher than the rest of the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), the major risk factor for the sun's damaging effects on the skin which can lead to skin cancer, gets a lot of attention in the spring and summer months when UV rays are stronger.

However, families in our communities need to be diligent about sun safety all year due to our subtropical climate.

"It is important to remember that anyone, no matter what their skin tone can get skin cancer," says Bruce G. Tripp, M.D., board-certified radiation oncologist, Southeast Georgia Health System Cancer Care Centers.

"Treatment for skin cancer varies by type, but can range from topical creams and minor surgery to major surgery, medications, radiation, or even chemotherapy. By employing sun smart protection strategies every day you can effectively reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. And it is never too late to start."

To help people better understand the harm from unprotected sun exposure, the National Weather Service and EPA developed the UV Index which ranges from one to 11 plus.

The index takes into consideration time of day, time of year, elevation and cloud cover.

The higher the number, the greater the risk for exposure to harmful UV rays.

"Don't be fooled by clouds," notes Dr. Tripp. "UV rays can still pass through clouds causing sun damage to the skin." It is also important to remember there is increased exposure from reflection off water, sand and pavement.

Protect Yourself: Seven Sun Safety Tips

1. Stay in the shade when the sun is strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

2. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

3. Make sure your sunscreen is still good. If it's past the expiration date, buy a new bottle.

4. Cover up with dark-colored clothing made from tightly woven fabrics.

5. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that offer UVA and UVB protection.

6. Opt for self-tanners rather than tanning beds, which are just as harmful as the sun.

7. Check your skin monthly and have your doctor check your skin annually for signs of cancer. Signs to look for include moles that are asymmetric; have irregular borders; are not uniform in color; are larger than 6 millimeters across; or change in size, shape or color.

Sunburns and skin cancer are not the only negatives of too much sunshine and its harmful rays. Overexposure also leads to:

Premature aging. Up to 90 percent of age-related skin changes -- wrinkles, leathery skin and lesion development -- are caused by sun damage.

Vision impairment. Sunlight can lead to cataracts and other vision problems.

Immune suppression. According to some studies, too much UV radiation may decrease the body's ability to fight infection.

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