Understanding Melanoma!
Before you can protect yourself, you must understand the causes that allow this deadly disease to develop. Click on the button below to learn more about UVA/UVB rays that cause this.
Don't Fry Your Skin!
These easy guidelines that you can follow will dramaticaly decrease your risk of damaging your skin!
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Shade, Shade, Shade!
- Always seek the shade outdoors, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM
- If indoors or in a vehicle, tinted UV-protective films can block up to 99.9% of UV radiation while letting 80% of visible light in
- Remember that UV Radiation can bounce off of reflective surfaces like concrete, sand, water, snow, ect.
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What's in Style?
- When outdoors, your clothing may be your best form of sun protection.
- Wear densely woven fabric with bright or dark colors.
- Wear special clothing that provides a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 30 or above.
- Wear sunglasses that are able to block 99-100% of UV light
- Wear hats with a brim of 3 inches or more to provide substantial protection to your face and neck
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Sunscreen, Sunscreen, and Sunscreen!
- Always wear sunscreen whether its a cloudy or a sunny day.
- Wear sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher
- SPF 15 filters about 93% of incoming UVB rays while SPF 30 filters 97% and SPF 50 fitlers 98%
- Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA rays
- Apply sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside
- Remember to reapply the sunscreen every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming
- Daily use of SPF 15+ sunscreen can reduce the risk of developing Melanoma up to 50%
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Avoid Tanning Booths and Sun Lamps
- Those who tan before age 30 increase their risk of melanoma by 75%
- Be aware that the tanning lamps can emit 12 times the amount of UV rays you can receive from the sun
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Check Your Skin Often!
It's good to check your moles often, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer
It's good to check your moles often, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer
- Examine your body from head-to-toe using a mirror.
- Pay great attention to your scalp, neck, ears, back, torso, chest, legs, genitals
- An open sore that does not heal within two weeks
- A sore that continues to scab, itch, hurt, bleed
- Refer to the "ABCD's" of Melanoma detection
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Don't Ever Get Burned!
- Having 5 or more sunburns in your life time will double your chances of getting skin cancer
- Having one blistering childhood/adolescent sunburn more than doubles a person's chances of getting Melanoma later in life