MELANOMA
Cancer of the cells that produce skin color
(www.melanomafoundation.org)
Sunscreen products include SPF, which
stands for sun protection factor. The SPF
number is a measurement of the amount of
UVB protection — the higher the number,
the greater the protection. SPF 15 and
above protect against sunburn and those
marked broad-spectrum reduce the risk of
skin cancer and premature skin aging. It is
best to use a sunscreen with SPF 15 (or
above) and is broad-spectrum to protect your
skin.
Skin is the biggest organ of the body, some of its
important functions are:
Controlling & regulating body temperature
Protecting against injury
Preventing infection as the first line of defense
against possible invasion of bacteria & other
germs
Tanning with the idea that you won’t have
to worry about skin damage until you get
older is not wise. Did you know that melanoma is the 2nd most common cancer in
15 to 29 year olds?* Yep, that’s your age
group, you are at risk NOW.
Another fact: the risk of melanoma
increases 75 percent if use of tanning beds
begins before age 35. **
*http://seer.cancer.gov/publications/
aya/5_melanoma.pdf
**ww.fda.gov
FREE SUN
DAMAGE SCREENING
MORE SUN SAFETY TIPS:
Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.— This is
when UV rays are the most intense
Cover up your skin - broad-rimmed hat, long-sleeves,
pants
Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, more often if you
are sweating or swimming. New regulations require
sunscreen with water-resistance to list the
amount of time that SPF protection will
last, either 40 or 80 minutes (No sunscreen is water or sweat-proof).
Union Concourse
Wednesday,
February 29
11:00am—1:30pm
(www.fda.gov)
Use this guide to determine if an unusual mole or suspicious spot on your skin may be melanoma. Check yourself often and have someone check the places you can’t
see well. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist if you
have concerns. Don’t wait!
Still thinking about
tanning? Google ‘Dear
16-year-old Me’ or go
to dcmf.ca
and watch this video. It
just might change your
mind.
Indoor Tanning refers to tanning beds and tanning booths. The
idea that tan skin is beautiful is a popular perception in our society, but what many fail to understand is how dangerous it is, and
not just down the road. Tanning is dangerous. My advice is:
DON’T DO IT!! If you indoor tan you expose yourself to
doses of Ultra-Violet (UV) radiation that can be 1.2—4.7
times higher than what comes from the sun (in addition to
those from the sun). And this can be toxic for your skin and
your eyes.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
classifies tanning beds as carcinogenic, meaning that they
are cancer causing. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that tanning
is good because you want a base tan or because it gives you
Vitamin D. A tan occurs when you damage the DNA in your skin
cells, which can lead to cancer, and you can get vitamin D easily
through your diet. Tanning is not worth the risk.
(Source: The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on artificial ultraviolet (UV) light and skin cancer )
Asymmetry—One half of the mole does not match the
other half.
Border—irregularity, the edges of the mole are
ragged, scalloped or notched.
Color—the color of the mole is not the same all over.
There may be shades of tan, brown, or black and
sometimes with patches of red, blue or white coloration.
Multiple colors or uneven distribution of color may
indicate cancer. Generally, growths that are uniform in
color are noncancerous.
Diameter– the mole is wider than about 1/4 inch (a
pencil eraser), although smaller lesions may still be
melanoma.
(/www.barnabashealth.org)
Check out the LEAD Series,
Bystander Intervention on Thurs., March
1 @ 6:00 in the Student Org. Center (SOC)
in the Union. Molly McKeogh and Justine
Johnson are presenting.
You Want Tan Skin?
Sunless tanning (or self
tanning) products are a safe
alternative to indoor tanning
or sunbathing
Some options are:
Spray Tans
Lotions and Creams
Tinted Moisturizer
Make sure to wear sunscreen too
(especially in your face moisturizer)! It’s
included in some of these products.
Check out www.mayoclinic.com/health/
sunless-tanning/SN00037 for more info.
Or go ahead and flaunt the
beautiful skin you were born with !
Protecting Your
Peepers
Wearing sunglasses protects your
eyes from UV rays and helps
reduce your risk of cataracts,
macular degeneration, and uvea
(the colored part of the eye)
cancer. Sunglasses also protect
the skin around your eyes from
the sun. Make sure
your sunglasses
have both UVA
and UVB
protection!
(www.cdc.gov)
PHYSICAL
INTELLECTUAL
Stall Talk
Volume 13, Issue 19
February 20, 2012
Stall Talk is brought to you by Beu Health Center Graduate Assistant and Peace Corps Fellow
Danielle Hoekwater and Students T.A.L.K. peer educators. For more information, call 298-1888
x.235. For more health info, visit beu.wiu.edu. For adaptive format see Disability Support Services.
EMOTIONAL
SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
OCCUPATIONAL
SPIRITUAL