10 Tips for for Sun Safety

• Minimize sun exposure during the hours of 10AM to 2PM (11AM to 3PM daylight-saving time) when the sun is stongest. Try to plan your outdoor activities for the early morning or late afternoon.
  
  
• Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants when exposed to the sun. Choose tightly woven material for greater protection from the sun's rays.
  
  
• Apply a sunscreen every day before exposure to the sun, and reapply frequently and liberally, at least every 2 hours, as long as you stay in the sun. The sunscreen should always be reapplied after swimming or perspiring heavily, since products differ in their degree of water resistance. We recommend sunscreens with a SPF of 15 or greater.
  
  
• Use a sunscreen with a higher SPF during high-altitude activities such as mountain climbing and skiing. At high altitudes, where there is less atmosphere to absorb the sun's rays, your risk of burning is greater. The sun is also stronger near the equator where the sun's rays strike the earth most directly.
  
  
• Don't forget to use your sunscreen on overcast days. The sun's rays are as damaging to your skin on cloudy, hazy days as they are on sunny days.
  
  
• Photosensitivity -- an increased sensitivity to sun exposure -- is a possible side effect to certain medications, drugs, cosmetics, and birth control pills. Some people are also sensitive to ingredients found in traditional suncreens. If you develop a reaction after using a sunscreen, consult with your dermatologist. He or she may recommend using a sunblock instead of a suncreen to minimize the chances of this kind of reaction.
  
  
• Beware of reflective surfaces. Sand, snow, concrete, and water can reflect more than half the sun's rays onto your skin. Sitting in the shade does not guarantee protection from sunburn.
  
  
• Keep your infants out of the sun. Begin using sunscreen on children at 6 months of age, and then allow sun exposure with moderation.
  
  
• Teach children sun protection early. Sun damage occurs with each unprotected sun exposure and accumulates over the course of a lifetime.
  
  
• Conduct regular skin self-examinations using the ABCD's.

                    The ABCD's of Moles & Melanomas

Asymmetry: Most moles are symmetrical and round. Be on the lookout for those that change shape and become asymmetrical.

Border: Most moles have even borders. Watch for moles that are uneven and irregular around the edges.

Color: It is normal for moles to be a uniform brown color. Moles that are different shades of brown or black may be a skin cancer and should be evaluated.

Diameter: Most moles are small -- about 6 mm or smaller in diameter. If a mole becomes larger than the tip of a pencil eraser, you should check with your dermatologist.