Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Skin Cancer Myth 5 – You don’t need to use sunscreen if you are naturally tan

All colors of skin, regardless of race, should be using sunscreen. Naturally dark skin types have a lower incidence of skin cancer, but when melanoma is discovered on darker skin, it is more advanced than on lighter skin. 

 

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Skin Cancer Myth 4 – Wearing sunscreen every day will cause a Vitamin D deficiency

Your body only needs 20 minutes of noontime exposure to sunshine a day to make about 1000 IU of Vitamin D. Oral Vitamin D supplements are as effective as sun exposure and your body doesn’t know the difference between the two.

 

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Skin Cancer Myth 3– You only need to wear sunscreen on sunny days

UVA rays penetrate through clouds and windows and are reflected off concrete, asphalt, snow and grass.  They rays are present from sun up to sun down, year-round.

 

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Skin Cancer Myth 2– Tanning beds are safer than the sun because they don’t have the UVB rays that burn the skin

Tanning beds can expose the individual to 4 times the amount of UVA rays that burn the skin and 2 times the amount of UVB rays as a similar period of sun exposure. . People are unable to feel the UVA rays on their skin but they contribute the most to skin aging and skin cancer. 

 

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Skin Cancer Myth 1 – Skin Cancer only happens to people over 40

Among young American adults aged 25-29, melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the No. 1 cause of cancer death among 15-20 year olds.

 

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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Don’t avoid the dermatologist

Getting a complete skin exam once a year is essential to your overall health because it can help prevent serious issues, like skin cancer. There are so many spots that are hidden which is why getting your moles checked by a doctor is so important.  A large number of abnormal skin problems can be picked up instantly. If you do see a suspicious-looking spot or mole, don't wait until your yearly exam, see a doctor sooner to make sure you're in the clear.

 

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Will my leftover sunscreen still be effective next year?

Check to see if your bottle of sunscreen is stamped with an expiration date. If you don't see a date, the rule of thumb is that the active ingredients in sunscreen (like zinc, titanium dioxide and Parsol 1789) should remain stable and effective for about three years. But if it smells funny, feels lumpy or has a strange color, dump it. To keep your sunscreen as close to new as possible, store it in a dry spot at room temperature with the lid tightly fastened.

 

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