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Health & Fitness

Recognize "Don't Fry Day" by Following Sun Safe Tips

By Richard Bezozo, M.D., President of MoleSafe Millions of Americans are heading to beaches and warm-weather getaways this weekend to celebrate Memorial Day, seeking to dive toes deep into the sand as they celebrate the unofficial start of summer! However, Memorial Day Weekend is not always so bright. This weekend tends to be peoples’ initial contact with the sun since last season, hence the reason why so many get sunburned. To commence the highly anticipated Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 24, 2013, has been declared as “Don’t Fry Day,” by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, as an effort to encourage sun safety awareness. This year alone, the American Cancer Society projects approximately 76,690 new melanomas, the most serious and deadliest form of skin cancer, to be diagnosed, giving us all the more reason to practice safe sun techniques to reduce your risk. In full support of “Don’t Fry Day,” to help you keep your skin healthy and enjoy being outdoors and avoid the painful start of the sunburn season, be sure to follow these simple tips below: • Use sunscreen. Whether you’re at the beach or at a barbecue, always wear a broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply the sunscreen generously to all parts of your body 30 minutes before going outdoors, to allow it to absorb in your skin, and reapply it every 2 to 3 hours. Even if you aren’t so lucky to get sunny weather, if you are outdoors, be sure to apply sunscreen because approximately 50 – 80 percent of UV rays penetrate through the clouds. • Limit exposure. Despite our desire to spend countless hours outdoors this weekend, it requires some risk-taking. Try to avoid the sun or minimize your time outdoors during the sun’s most powerful hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are outdoors, seek shade when possible. • Cover your skin. Wear a hat, put on some wraparound UV-blocking sunglasses, and don’t forget to apply a lip balm that contains an SPF. Sun-protective clothing and bathing suits that contain an ultraviolet protective factor (UPF) are also a good idea to wear to enhance protection from the sun’s harmful rays, especially for lighter-skinned individuals who are more prone to sunburn. • Treat your burns. If your skin does happen to burn from too much sun exposure, apply aloe or moisturizing cream to ease the discomfort and hydrate your skin and be sure to stay out of the sun to limit any further damage. This “Don’t Fry Day” reminds people to be proactive in their skin health this weekend, and every day of the year. In addition to following these tips, it is important to note that the best way to detect skin cancer is to regularly check your skin and enroll in an early detection melanoma screening program, to monitor for changes in moles and for new skin growths and lesions. I encourage you to take the lead in your health and enjoy your Friday, without making it a “fry” day.

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