Health Insurance Daily

Protect Yourself From The Sun

More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed this year with a cancer that is almost totally preventable--skin cancer. It is the most common cancer in the United States and, for the most part, caused by too much exposure to the sun. The fairer your skin, the higher your risk of skin cancer. If you freckle or burn in the sun, you are at highest risk. Still, people of all skin colors can develop skin cancer. Most skin cancers are highly curable, although one form, called malignant melanoma, is much more serious.

Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you must be in the sun, cover up with clothing, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going into the sun so it has a chance to be absorbed by the skin. Reapply often, as swimming and perspiration will remove it. Don't try to economize--apply sunscreen liberally.

To read this article in its entirety, click on Sun Exposure.

posted by Mike @ 8:45 AM