BEATING THE SUMMER

BEATING THE SUMMER

INCREASING WORD POWER

Simple precautions may save your skin

A suntan is a warning. It tells you

that your skin has been burned.

Ignore repeated warnings, and you

may end up with wrinkles, age spots

and skin cancer. Here are some tips

to protect your skin:

_ Limit your time in the sun. Avoid

the strongest ultraviolet (UV)

sunlight, which is between

midmorning and midafternoon.

Be aware that UV light reflected

from water, sand, snow and

cement can be as intense as

direct sunlight.

_ Wear protective clothing and

sunglasses. Loose, longsleeved

cotton shirts and caps

with at least a 4-inch brim offer

good protection. Sunglasses

should have at least 99 percent

protection against both

ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet

B (UVB) sunlight.

_ Wearing sunglasses is

particularly important when

you’re around water and snow,

where failure to use eye

protection can result in a painful

burn to the outer layer of your

eye (cornea) and temporary

blindness. Use sunscreen.

Many moisturizing and makeup

products now contain nongreasy

sunscreens with a sun

protection factor (SPF) of 15 or

higher. They’re good to use all

day, every day, even if you live

in a cloudy climate.

_ Ask your doctor about

medications you take. Many

drugs can increase your

sensitivity to sunlight and your

risk of getting sunburn.

_ Examine your skin regularly. If

you see changes in the size,

texture (rough, smooth), shape

(round, irregular), or color of

blemishes, or you have a sore

that doesn’t heal, see your

doctor immediately. Make sure

your doctor examines all skin

surfaces. Don’t assume it’s

safe to stay in the sun just

because you’re wearing

sunblock. Sunblock alone

doesn’t protect you from skin

cancer. Being sun smart is

best: Avoid the midday sun,

wear sun-protective clothing

and then wear sunscreen on

exposed skin, in that order.

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