Summer in Chicago is finally here. But with the increased sunshine and longer days comes a greater risk of skin damage due to harmful UV rays.
To raise awareness of sun safety, July is nationally recognized as UV Safety Awareness Month, says Dr. Elizabeth Fahrenbach, dermatologist with Presence Resurrection Medical Center.
According to Dr. Fahrenbach, there are three tips you should always follow to keep your skin safe in the summer sun.
3 tips for summer sun safety
1. Cover up-Wear sun-protective clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, pants and wide-brimmed hats to help shield your skin from UV ray exposure. And don't forget to protect your eyes with UV-rated sunglasses.
2. Make for the shade-The sun is most intense at midday. Sticking to the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. will help protect your skin. And the sun doesn't' have to be visible to damage your skin. UV rays can still cause damage when it's cloudy or cold. So stay protected all year round.
3. Choose your the sunscreen wisely-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommends your sunscreen have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, protecting against both Ultraviolet A (UV-A) and Ultraviolet B (UV-B) rays. And make sure you apply liberally and often. According to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, most people apply only 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount. Apply at least one ounce-about the amount that fills a shot glass or the palm of your hand-every two hours. Apply it more often if you're sweating or swimming, even if the sunscreen is waterproof.
If you spot it, stop it
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, with more than 5.4 million non-melanoma cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. But it's also the easiest to cure, if diagnosed and treated early, Dr. Fahrenbach says.
The key, she says, is spotting the issue and getting to a doctor right away. Some of the warning signs that you should be checked by a physician include:
• A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multicolored
• A mole, birthmark, beauty mark or any brown spot that:
- changes color
- increases in size or thickness
- changes in texture
- is irregular in outline
- is bigger than 0.25 in., about the size of a pencil eraser
- appears after age 21
• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed
• An open sore that does not heal within three weeks
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