sábado, 23 de mayo de 2015

CDC - Skin Cancer Awareness Feature

CDC - Skin Cancer Awareness Feature



CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC 24/7: Saving Lives. Protecting People.



Skin Cancer Awareness



Photo of a group of people on the beach

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. To lower your skin cancer risk, protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning.

Sun Safety Tips

Check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s UV Index before you spend time outdoors and plan your sun protection accordingly, using these tips—
  • Seek shade, especially during midday hours.
  • Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin.
  • Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
  • Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
  • Use sunscreen with broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection and sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher.
  • Remember to reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

Fast Facts About Skin Cancer

  • When you’re having fun outdoors, it’s easy to forget how important it is to protect yourself from the sun. Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays in as little as 15 minutes. Yet it can take as long as 12 hours for skin to show the full effect of sun exposure.
  • Even if it’s cool and cloudy, you still need protection. UV rays, not the temperature, do the damage.
  • Tanned skin is damaged skin. Any change in the color of your skin after time outside—whether sunburn or suntan—indicates damage from UV rays.
  • Anyone can get skin cancer, but some things put you at higher risk.
  • Indoor tanning exposes users to both UVA and UVB rays, which damage the skin and can lead to cancer.
  • A change in your skin is the most common symptom of skin cancer. This could be a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in a mole.


Featured Resources

Tanned Skin Is Not Healthy Skin posterOur “Tanned Skin Is Not Healthy Skin” poster explains that every time you tan, you increase your risk of melanoma.
A photo of Sharon McKenna enjoying a sunny day“I learned the hard way: a tan is not a sign of health,” writes melanoma survivor Sharon McKenna in thisblog post.
“Protect All the Skin You’re In” InfographicA new CDC study found that most Americans don't use sunscreen regularly. Thisinfographic lists sun protection strategies that work.
Sun Safety: What You Can Do brochureOur “Sun Safety: What You Can Do” brochure[PDF-860KB] explains what schools, health care providers, and parents can do to reduce children’s risk for skin cancer.
Kidtastics logoIn the “Sun Proof” podcast,the Kidtastics talk about the harmful effects of the sun and how to protect yourself.
Photo of a mother and a daughter wearing a hat.In this session of Grand Rounds, experts discuss how we can help people protect their skin and their lives while enjoying the outdoors.

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