(Prevent Skin Cancer by Genia Greeenland, Nurse Practitioner at Keystone Urgent Care, first appeared in the May 2013 edition of the Public Opinion Newspaper. To read it online, click here.)
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and there are more new cases of skin cancer than cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon combined. With that in mind, it’s more important than ever to consider ways to protect yourself from the sun and harmful UV rays.
Sunburn is Serious
Sunburn is redness of the skin and damage to the skin cells that develop in response to excessive exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. It’s important to remember that even mild sunburn represents excess sun exposure and cell damage. This damage can be caused by exposure to the sun’s rays or the UV light in tanning beds.
How fast you burn depends on how susceptible you are to the sun’s rays. Those with fair skin, light colored hair, history of sunburn with minimal exposure or those taking certain medications can burn much more quickly than others. For those at increased risk it’s possible to see redness of the skin with only 15 minutes of exposure. But that doesn’t mean that those who don’t fit in these categories are off the hook. Anyone can experience sunburn, which increases risk for skin cancer. There’s also an additive effect—with every sunburn, you are more at risk for dangerous and deadly skin cancer.
Prevention Helps
If you prevent sunburn, you help to prevent skin cancer. Avoid the sun’s UV rays by staying in the shade between the hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, when UV radiation is greatest. Remember, UVB rays can penetrate clouds and cause sunburn, so even if it’s not sunny remember to take precautions. If you are going to be in the sun, wear protective clothing such as wide brimmed hats to cover the ears, forehead, and back of neck, and long sleeves and pants. Light cotton material can be used in summer months. Wear sunglasses since UV rays can damage eyes as well.
The most important tip for sunburn prevention – wear sunscreen! Cover all exposed areas including lips and apply every two to three hours. Sunscreens are measured by SPF, or sun protection factor, so the higher the SPF number, the higher the protection from the sun. Use SPF 30 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Don’t use expired sunscreen and consider waterproof products when swimming or sweating.
When to Seek Medical Attention
For mild sunburn, treat the affected area with cool cloths, take cool showers, and use aloe-vera based lotions. You can also take over the counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with the pain, just make sure to consult with your doctor.
It’s important to seek medical attention for severely painful sunburn, if the burn covers a large area or if there are blisters. Seek immediate medical help if you have fever and chills, facial swelling, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, dizziness or fainting. If you experience these symptoms, you may have sun poisoning which needs immediate medical attention as it can lead to severe dehydration.
Genia Greenland is a certified registered nurse practitioner at Keystone Urgent Care located at The Cochran Professional Center on Fifth Avenue in Chambersburg. For more information about Keystone Urgent Care, visit www.keystoneurgentcare.org.
