By Dr. Jack Lesher
Chief of Dermatology, MCGHealth

Warmer days are here, encouraging outdoor activities such as swimming, walking, gardening, or even just lying outside to soak up the sunshine. But exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is the leading cause of skin cancer, and, surprisingly, only about 30 percent of American adults use sun-protection measures.

Don’t be among the nearly 1 million people diagnosed with skin cancer this year. Before heading outdoors, practice these 10 sun safety precautions:

1. Know your enemy. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Check your local news daily for the ultraviolet, or UV index. The higher the number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. There are two types of UV light: Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays. UVA rays penetrate deep into skin, producing the aging associated with chronic sun exposure such as skin sagging, loss of elasticity, pigment changes, deep wrinkles and dry skin. UVB rays produce the visible sunburn and cause skin cancer. Even on cloudy days, the UVB rays can still burn your skin.
2. All complexions are susceptible. People with fair skin and blond or red hair may burn more easily and quickly, but those with darker skin must be protected too. Sun damage affects every skin type.
3. Apply and reapply sunscreen. I recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and has a Sun Protection Factor of at least 15. SPF measures how long it takes sunscreen-protected skin to begin to burn, or turn red, as compared to unprotected skin. For instance, if it takes unprotected skin 10 minutes to burn, then skin protected with an SPF value of 15 will take 150 minutes, or 2 1/2 hours, to burn. However, depending on the intensity of the heat, sunburns could occur in a much shorter time. Sunscreen should be reapplied often - especially after swimming or sweating - and applied over all exposed areas of the body, including lips and ears, to ensure ongoing protection.
4. Wear the right stuff. When you can, wear protective, tightly woven clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants. If not, wear sunscreen under your clothing; a standard T-shirt only provides SPF protection of 5 to 8. A wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses are important for protecting the delicate skin on your face and your eyes. Be sure your sunglasses have UVA and UVB protections, which should filter at least 80 percent of the sun’s rays.
5. Beware of reflective surfaces. UV reflection from sand, water and pavement cement can redirect up to 85 percent of the sun’s damaging rays, so avoid them. If you are heading to the beach, pool or lake, I recommend a sunscreen with a higher SPF than you would wear for other outdoor activities since you will be getting additional exposure through these surfaces.
6. Start protective measures early. Children are at risk too. Keep newborns out of the sun. Minimize sun exposure and apply sunscreen to children 6 months and older who are outdoors. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but skin damage from the sun begins at an early age. Therefore, protection should start in childhood to prevent skin cancer later in life.
7. Head for the shade. Did you know that if your shadow is shorter than you are, you’re more likely to get a sunburn? This means the sun is near its zenith, or its highest - and hottest - point of the day. When your shadow is short, seek the shade or head indoors to better protect yourself during these intense rays.
8. Avoid Tanning Beds. If you love the look of tanned skin, find a good self-tanner not a tanning bed. Artificial UVA rays in tanning booths not only inflict the same type of skin and eye damage as the sun, but may be as much as 20 times stronger than natural sunlight.
9. Examine your skin. Take a good look at your skin from head-to-toe monthly. If you see some change in your skin, have it checked immediately by your doctor. Early detection is important.
10. Visit the doctor. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

While a suntan may look attractive, it is actually your skin’s way of telling you it has been damaged by sun exposure. The deeper the tan, the more your skin is fighting to protect itself from sun damage and skin cancer. Keep this in mind the next time you want to bask in the sun.

MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient facilities and services throughout the state. For more information, please visit mcghealth.org.