Parkland physician offers top 12 sun safety tips

Posted: 7/16/2014

If some is good, is more better? Not when it comes to sun exposure, says Parkland Health & Hospital System pediatrician Donna Persaud, MD.

“Texans love sunshine, but ultraviolet rays do not love our skin,” said Dr. Persaud, chief of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine for Parkland Community Oriented Primary Care. “Sun exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S. It’s important to begin educating our children about sun safety at an early age.”

July is UV Safety Month and a good time to remember that ultraviolet (UV) light wreaks havoc with our skin over time, eventually resulting in wrinkles and age spots on our faces, hands and arms, as well as causing skin cancers. Sun exposure can lead to pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous skin lesions, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. One person dies of melanoma every 57 minutes, and the incidence of skin cancer in young people, even children, is rising.

“Protecting your skin is an important way to protect your health,” said Dr. Persaud. “Reducing exposure is crucial, because nothing can completely undo sun damage. Parents should protect their children’s skin and make sunscreen part of their daily routine. And it’s never too late to begin, even for older adults.”

Here are 12 tips that Dr. Persaud says can reduce risk of sun damage and skin cancer in children and adults alike:

1. Sunscreen – use a broad-spectrum product that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater. Apply it at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.
2. Limit outdoor activities during peak UV radiation hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
3. Wear a hat with a 4” brim all around to protect neck, ears, eyes, forehead, scalp and nose.
4. Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants or skirt to cover as much skin as possible. Tightly woven fabrics in dark colors provide more protection than light colors in loosely woven fabrics.
5. Apply cosmetics and lip protectors with SPF 15 or higher to help protect your skin year-round.
6. Protect your eyes by wearing contact lenses with UV protection and wraparound sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
7. Ask your pharmacist if medications you’re taking, such as antibiotics, increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. 
8. If you’re swimming, reapply sunscreen regularly. Sand, cement and water reflect UV rays, increasing the intensity of exposure.
9. Be especially cautious about your children’s sun exposure. Apply sunscreen regularly, dress kids in protective clothing and hat and limit their time outdoors during peak UV hours. Babies’ delicate skin is particularly vulnerable. Teach your children at an early age to beware of overexposure to the sun.
10. Avoid man-made sources of UV radiation, like tanning beds and sun lamps.
11. Watch out for UV radiation in winter, too. Snow is highly reflective and people engaged in winter sports can get blistering sunburns if their skin isn’t protected.
12. Perform regular skin self-exams and consult with a physician if you notice any new growths or changes in existing growths.

For information about health services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com. For information about skin cancer, visit www.cancer.org.