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Outsmart the Sun at Any Age
The warmer months entice people
of all ages to come forth from their
winter havens - and most need to be
reminded about the importance of sun
protection. From young children to
teens to mature adults, there are
dozens of simple ways to change skin
cancer prevention from a chore into
a healthy habit.
Carol Drucker, M.D., associate
professor in the Department of
Dermatology at The University of
Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
and board-certified dermatologist,
knows sun protection is a lifelong
necessity for everyone; the earlier
individuals start, the better. From
her experience at M. D. Anderson,
the nation's top-ranked cancer
center, Drucker has considerable
expertise on reducing skin cancer
risk, and has helpful summer skin
care tips for every age.
Parents of Babies and Young
Children
- Sunscreen should not be
applied to babies younger than
six months. Instead, cover
babies and limit direct exposure
to the sun to the extent
possible.
- Make applying a waterproof
sunscreen part of a toddler's
routine before getting dressed
every day. "It's important to
find a sunscreen that kids can
tolerate - not too heavy or
greasy, so it feels good on the
skin," says Drucker. "Parents
may be surprised by how quickly
their child becomes accustomed
to this daily ritual."
- Try not to schedule outdoor
activity between the hours of 10
a.m. and 4 p.m. and seek
playgrounds where shade - from
trees or awnings — is plentiful.
If your child has to be outdoors
during these hours, be sure
they're protected from the sun
with a hat, sunglasses, etc.
- Add SPF to the weekly wash.
According to Drucker, relatively
inexpensive products are
available to put in the wash to
add SPF protection to normal
clothing for up to 20 washes.
"This works great for kids of
all ages, including stubborn
teenagers — they won't even know
it's there."
Teens
- "Teens do especially well
with products that have built in
SPF," advises Drucker. Teen
girls who wear makeup should
choose from the variety of
products that include sunscreen.
"Since it fits into products
they already use, it's a
painless step that provides
valuable sun protection."
- Quit tanning beds. They emit
the same harmful UV rays as
sunlight and are used at
dangerous rates. "For teens who
insist on getting color, a
spray-on tan is the only safe
tan," says Drucker.
- Wear hats as a trendy
accessory. Drucker notes sun
damage frequently occurs on the
face. "This season it's easy for
teens to stock up on cute,
stylish hats that will also
shield their face in the sun."
Adults
- Be aware that the window
glass in cars does not block all
of the sun's harmful rays,
making the driver's left side
more prone to sun damage.
Solutions Drucker offers include
applying sunscreen before long
car rides or installing shades
or specialized tinting in car
windows.
- Sun-proof hair. The top of
the head becomes increasingly at
risk for sun damage as hair
thins or if the hair is parted.
Style using hairsprays, shampoos
and conditioners with SPF.
- Apply sunscreen to
oft-forgotten areas - the top of
ears, back of hands, neck and
toes. Drucker warns, "These are
four places that get a lot of
incidental sun exposure."
- It is little known that wind
intensifies sun damage says
Drucker. "People should be
especially careful during water
sports or windy days at the
beach when the chapping and
burning effect of the wind acts
as an additive to UV rays and
can increase their risk of
burning," she explains.
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CONTINUE TO PAGE 3 to read about the recommended
intake
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PMID: 10648110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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