Protecting Your Skin from the Summer Sun
Warm weather and summer months mean people will be spending more time outside in the sunshine.
While having fun outdoors, though, it’s important to remember that the sun can damage the skin. Skin
cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and unprotected skin can be damaged
by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays in as little as 15 minutes.
There are three types of skin cancer. The two most common, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas,
are highly curable. The third type, melanoma, is more dangerous. In fact, it is the only one tracked by
central cancer registries. These registries show a disturbing trend—the incidence of melanoma of the
skin is increasing, especially among white men and women.
In fact, having light skin is a risk factor for skin cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the risk factors are:
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A lighter natural skin color;
A personal history of skin cancer;
A family history of melanoma;
Exposure to the sun through work and play;
A history of sunburns in early life;
Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun; and
Blue or green eyes.
The best protection against skin cancer is to avoid the harmful UV rays. It is important to remember the
UV rays are not blocked by clouds, so damage is possible on cloudy and hazy days, too. UV rays also
reflect off surfaces like water, cement, sand and snow. The CDC recommends these easy options for sun
protection:
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Use sunscreen with a Sun Protective Factor (SPF) 15 or higher. Use a sunscreen that specifically
provides both UVA and UVB protection. This should be reapplied every two hours.
Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect the face, head, ears and neck.
Wear sunglasses.
Seek shade when possible, especially during midday hours.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Augusta Health will be hosting two skin-care related events
during the month.
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On Wednesday, May 4: Free Lunch and Learn and Dermascan—Cosmetic Treatments for Sun
Damaged Skin presented by Kristen Savola, MD.
12:00 noon – 1:00 pm at the Augusta Community Care Building Conference Room #3
Call 245-7900 to register
On Monday, May 23: Annual Skin Cancer Screening for those not currently seeing a
dermatologist.
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Augusta Health Cancer Center
Call 332-5961 to register.