2008 Woodie Awards
Warning: Experience the Warm Weather with Caution
Sophie Kerszberg
Issue date: 4/21/05 Section: Features
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It's reading-on-a-blanket-outside season again. If you haven't heard about the dangers of spending time in the sun unprotected, you must be living in a cave, or under a rock, which might actually be a good thing for your skin.
The incidence of most forms of cancer is declining. Rates of skin cancer, however, are on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, one-half of all cancers are skin cancers. This is disturbing because unlike other types of cancer, the cause of skin cancer is well-established: excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, whether or not the exposure results in burns.
Prevention entails using a good sunscreen. You should choose a product labeled "broad spectrum" so that it protects both against UVB rays, which cause burns and, over time, cancer, and against UVA rays, which accelerate skin aging, giving your skin wrinkles and a leathery texture.
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) refers to the percentage of the sun's harmful rays the product does not block. For example, SPF 15 blocks all but one-fifteenth of the rays. The idea is that SPF 15 would allow you to stay 15 times longer in the sun without getting burned.
If you're not using sunscreen correctly, you may be getting less protection than promised on the sunscreen's label. The most common mistakes are applying too little sunscreen, applying it less than 20 minutes before sun exposure, and reapplying it too infrequently.
Dermatologist Martin Weinstock is the chairman of the American Cancer Society's skin cancer advisory group. In an American Cancer Society trademark phrase, he recommends that we "Slip! Slop! Slap! Wrap!" - Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses.
Ideally, you should apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun, 20 minutes after you go out, and every two hours thereafter. Keep in mind that sunscreens labeled "waterproof" are only required to last about 80 minutes in water, and those labeled "water resistant" usually only last about 40 minutes in water.
The incidence of most forms of cancer is declining. Rates of skin cancer, however, are on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, one-half of all cancers are skin cancers. This is disturbing because unlike other types of cancer, the cause of skin cancer is well-established: excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, whether or not the exposure results in burns.
Prevention entails using a good sunscreen. You should choose a product labeled "broad spectrum" so that it protects both against UVB rays, which cause burns and, over time, cancer, and against UVA rays, which accelerate skin aging, giving your skin wrinkles and a leathery texture.
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) refers to the percentage of the sun's harmful rays the product does not block. For example, SPF 15 blocks all but one-fifteenth of the rays. The idea is that SPF 15 would allow you to stay 15 times longer in the sun without getting burned.
If you're not using sunscreen correctly, you may be getting less protection than promised on the sunscreen's label. The most common mistakes are applying too little sunscreen, applying it less than 20 minutes before sun exposure, and reapplying it too infrequently.
Dermatologist Martin Weinstock is the chairman of the American Cancer Society's skin cancer advisory group. In an American Cancer Society trademark phrase, he recommends that we "Slip! Slop! Slap! Wrap!" - Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses.
Ideally, you should apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun, 20 minutes after you go out, and every two hours thereafter. Keep in mind that sunscreens labeled "waterproof" are only required to last about 80 minutes in water, and those labeled "water resistant" usually only last about 40 minutes in water.