May-National Skin Cancer Awarness Month

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness month. In lieu of this, I thought it would be great to list some wonderful tips from the American Melanoma Foundation that you can follow through out the whole year to stay Sun SAVVY!:


Sun Protection Tips
1. UV reflection from sand, water, pavement, cement and snow doubles the amount of ultraviolet exposure.
2. Check your local paper or radio station daily for the UV index. The higher the number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
3. Protect children by limiting their sun exposure and applying sunscreen to children 6 months and older.
4. Stay out of the sun between 10am and 3pm, when the sun's rays are strongest.
5. Wear a sunscreen with a minimum of 15 SPF, even on cloudy days.
6. Wear sunscreen under your clothing; a standard T-shirt only provides SPF protection of 5 to 8.
7. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, especially during exercise or swimming.
8. Be sure your sunglasses have UVA and UVB protections, which should filter at least 80% of the sun's rays.
9. Sunscreen is only a part of a good program, which includes a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
10. Don't forget to apply sunscreen to your lips and ears!!

Second, Learn and Teach the ABCD's to friends and family, especially -husbands!!

ABCD's of Melanoma
A sudden or continuous change in the appearance of a mole is a sign that you should see your doctor. The ABCD rule can help you remember the symptoms of melanoma:

A for Asymmetry, One half is different than the other half.
B for Border Irregularity; The edges are notched, uneven, or blurred.
C for Color, The color is uneven. Shades of brown, tan,and black are present.
D for DiameterDiameter, is greater than 6 millimeters.
Other Warning Signs:• The appearance of a new bump or nodule• Color spreads into surrounding skin• redness or swelling beyond the mole• pain• tenderness• itching• bleeding• oozing• scaly appearance