EXCESSIVE SUN EXPOSURE

"It is estimated that there are more than one million cases of skin cancer
among Americans each year. Most are curable, but from 40,000 to 50,000 cases
are diagnosed as malignant melanoma of the skin, a form of skin cancer that can
be deadly if not caught early," said JoAnn Nora, Public Health Educator of
Oneida County Health Department.

• light skin color;

• family or personal history of skin cancer;

• history of severe sunburns early in life;

• a large number of moles, or moles that have changed in appearance; and

• freckles as an indicator of sun sensitivity and sun damage.

You can take several simple steps to protect yourself from the sun's UV

rays. Limiting your exposure to the sun is a good practice to follow throughout

the year, not just when at the beach or pool. To protect yourself and your

family:

• Wear a hat. Up to 80 percent of skin cancers occur on the head and neck, so

a wide-brimmed hat should be worn to shade the face, ears, scalp and neck

from the sun's UV rays.

• Cover up. Wear a closely woven, long-sleeve shirt and long pants. If you

• See light through a fabric, rays can penetrate it, causing burns.

• Seek shade. Because the sun's UV rays are strongest and do the most

• Rub it on. Sunscreen with at least SPF 15 should be used whenever you spend time outdoors. To be effective, sunscreen needs to be generously applied 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied throughout the day, especially after swimming or physical activity.

• Protect children. Babies under six months should spend very little time in the sun. be especially careful to protect the skin and eyes of older babies and children.

• Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses protect the tender skin around the eyes and reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Look for sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Wrap-around lenses are ideal, because they keep UV rays from hitting the sides of the eyes.