May is skin cancer month and Miami Gorgeous will be donating 10% of all our profits on our website to raise awareness for this dreaded disease. With this in mind, do you know all there is to know on how to prevent skin cancer? The good news is that although the cases of many of the common cancers is decreasing, unfortunately it is shocking to note that the incidence of skin cancer is continuing to increase at a faster rate than that of the five most common cancers.
The following are some of the best skin cancer prevention tips that we recommend you implement to protect yourself!
• Never Burn or Get a Sun Tan in the Sun
As tempting as it may be, experts advise that you should NEVER get burned while in the sun. In addition, you should never go out into the sun with the intention of getting a sun tan. If you do this, you are asking for trouble and simply increasing your risk of developing a melanoma and skin cancer. Why is this? Well, every time you go out into the sun,the super-dangerous UV (ultraviolet) light from the sun causes damage to your skin if you don’t protect it. The same goes for tanning beds. Make sure to use zinc sunscreen and reapply hourly when you are outside in the sun.
A healthy tan can be easily achieved with the use of a good quality self-tanning product, such as LaPlaya Glow Self Tanning Mousse which gives you a gorgeous and glowing tan without the need to go into the sun at all!
Excessive sun exposure also promotes wrinkles and aging skin so rather avoid it!
If you have a newborn baby, keep him or her out of the sun until the age of 6 months. Note that sunscreens (even ones that have been designed for infants) should only be used on children older than 6 months of age.
2) Look for Shade.
If you are out and about in the sun in the day between 10am and 3pm (when the sun is at its strongest), always try and remain in the shade.
3) Wear a Hat and Protective Clothing.
Going out in the sun? Always wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Also, make sure that your arms are not exposed- difficult in hot weather but opt for loose fitting, long-sleeved cotton shirts and long pants.
4) Get Your Vitamin D via Healthy Sources.
We all need a healthy, daily dose of Vitamin D that can only come from the sun. However, don’t overdo it and rather obtain the balance through diet and supplements.
5) Apply Sunscreen Generously.
Applying a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 (or higher) before going out into the sun is non-negotiable as this protects your skin from both UVA (ultraviolet A) and UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation. This should be applied 15 minutes before you go outdoors and reapplied every 2 hours. If you are anywhere near the snow, a sandy area or a body of water, ensure that you pay extra attention to the way in which you apply your sunscreen as these surfaces reflect the sun’s damaging rays, further increasing your risk of sunburn. Also, always make sure that you apply a good quality sunscreen product- for example LaPlaya Zinc Sun Stick which has an SPF of 30.
6) Regularly Check Your Skin For Moles.
Regularly examine your skin for any irregular, changing or new spots. If this is the case, they should be seen to by your doctor as soon as possible. Skin cancer experts recommend that you see your family doctor or skin specialist on an annual basis for a professional skin analysis. This is extremely important because early detection of melanoma can save your life!