Winter, summer, and spring seasons can be equally tough on our skin. Due to global warming and pollution, the climate has taken a strange turn. Such adverse changes in the climate increase the chances of skin cancer or melanoma. The risk of skin cancer grows significantly when you stay under the sun as your skin is exposed to the sun.
However, most skin cancers are preventable. By practicing precautions, you can decrease the chances of skin damage and cancer altogether. To lower the chances of skin cancer, it will be essential for you to protect your skin from UV rays by using moisturizers and lotion. Alternatively, you can contact Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street to get assistance in preventing skin cancer.
Practical tips for preventing skin cancer:
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Indoor tanning can be equally bad
You increase the risk of skin cancer when you get indoor tanning using a tanning bed, sunlamp, sunbed, or booth. Indoor tanning can expose you to high and dangerous levels of UV rays. Significant exposure to UV rays can also cause cataracts and cancers of the eye.
When UV rays enter your skin’s layer, the skin starts producing more melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanin tends to move to the skin’s outdoor layers, resulting in a tan. Here are some common signs of injury to your skin:
- change in skin color
- a tan
- burn
It will be helpful for you to avoid indoor tanning and save yourself from the chances of skin cancer.
. Try to wear protective clothing as a measure of prevention.
Wearing clothes that cover and protect your skin from exposure to UV rays is necessary to prevent skin cancer. It will help if you wear sun-protective dresses with a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) to reduce the chances of skin cancer. When stepping out, you can wear sun-protective clothing with a UPF factor higher than 50. A higher UPF factor in sun-protective clothes can help you block more than 90% of the sun’s harmful rays and prevent skin cancer at the same time.
You can also wear hats with wide brims and sun-protective clothing by completely covering your arms and legs to protect your skin from UV rays. You will be surprised that most sunscreens do not block all UV rays like sun-protective clothing.
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more sun safety
It would help to practice sun safety in all seasons, as UV rays can reach your skin on cloudy or cool days. UV rays can be easily reflected off of snow, water, cement, or sand. UV rays can be most harmful from peak timings such as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will help if you avoid peak timings during the day, reducing the chances of skin cancer.
When traveling during peak times, you should stay in shades and wear sunglasses to block UVA and UVB rays from your eyes. Using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) value higher than 15 can help reduce the chances of skin cancer. You should reapply sunscreen every three hours or more frequently if you are sweating and under the sun.
