It looks like temperatures in the 90s are long gone, and you can buy pumpkin-flavored everything. It may seem like fall is here, but wait a minute before you put away the sunglasses and sunscreen.
More than 90% of all skin cancers are associated with sun damage, with that damage suffered throughout the year “” not just during the summer. You can suffer the same effects from a sunburn while on a tropical vacation in July as you can raking the leaves in your front yard in October.
Incidental sun exposure, the kind of exposure you’re barely aware of, accumulates over the years from everyday activities from walking the dog to resting an arm outside the car window while driving.
Damage from these kinds of incidental exposure is frequently linked to the second-most common skin cancer “” squamous cell carcinoma “” with an estimated 700,000 new cases each year, according for the National Institute of Health.
So, even though the summer sun is waning, five tips to keep in mind:
- Sunscreen’s still needed.
The right kind. And enough. The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) recommends using a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. According to the foundation, we’re not using the recommended amount, too. The correct amount is around 1.5 ounces per application “” enough to really slather on.
- Wait about 30 minutes.
After putting on sunscreen, it’s best to give it some time to be absorbed into your skin before heading out into the sun.
- Sunscreen isn’t a “one-and-done” shot.
You should reapply sunscreen every two hours of outdoor time, immediately after you have been sweating heavily.
- Clothes aren’t always the best “sunscreen substitute.”
According to SCF docs, an average t-shirt, because UV rays can still get past it, typically has an SPF level around 5. Mesh hats offer little protection, too. Be aware of what protection your clothes provide. If you want to increase their SPF levels, there are simple laundry additives that boost protection up to around SPF 30.
- Keep vigilant.
The American Cancer Society suggests examining yourself from head to toe each month for any suspicious growths, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Brown spots, moles that change shape or color, or pink bumps that don’t go away could all be early stage skin cancer. See your dermatologist.
