A topic close to my skin ;-)

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month!!

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer - accounting for about half of all the cancers.

The best way to lower the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer is to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time. But don't sweat it: you can continue to exercise and enjoy the outdoors while practicing sun safety at the same time. There are some guidelines for sun safety:

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Seek shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun's rays are at their strongest.
• Slip on a shirt. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light. That's also a great tip for people with sun allergies.
  
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days. Use it generously and reapply when needed.
  
• Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears and neck.
  
• For those of you who prefer baseball hats: remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
• Wear sunglasses with 99-100 percent ultraviolet (UV) absorption
  

Get familiar with your own skin- check the pattern of moles, freckles and beauty marks. Let someone else check your back. Changes in the number, size, shape or color of spots should be reported to your doctor/dermatologist.

Don't use tanning beds- not only will they make your skin age much faster and let's face it, who wants to have wrinkles at an early age?- it also has lasting effects on your skin. Besides, pale is the new tan, right? ;-)