July 11, 2000

HEALTH WATCH - EXCESSIVE SUN EXPOSURE

Summer is a great time to enjoy the healthy benefits of outdoor activities, but take simple precautions to protect your skin and eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

"It is estimated that there are more than one million new 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 Mr. Wolford, Director, of the Broome County Health Department.

"It is especially important to protect children, because most of our exposure to the sun occurs before the age of 20, "he said.

Although anyone can get skin cancer, individuals with certain risk factors are particularly susceptible. Some risk factors for skin cancer are:

• 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 damage during midday, outdoor activities should be minimized at this time. If this is not possible, find the shade of a tree, beach umbrella or tent to protect the skin.
• 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.

In the same way that skin is affected, UV damage can increase the risk of cancers in various parts of the eye. UV radiation may also worsen other eye conditions, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

"Routine eye examinations every year or two are recommended for people over 45 years of age, unless a prior eye condition or disease necessitates more frequent exams," Mr. Wolford said.

For more information about protecting your skin and eyes from excessive sun exposure, call the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.3944.

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