Laurie-Ell Bashforth | Special to the 51°µÍø
Obviously, it’s been crazy hot. I love a sunny, warm, blue sky day when I can get outside for fun and soak up the sun. But not when it’s sweltering and my shins are sweating. I hate to say this, but sun is one good thing you can have too much of. We can suffer quickly from heat stroke, sunburn, exhaustion; or much later on, when, like about 80,000 Canadians every year, you're diagnosed with skin cancer.
Fortunately, 19 out of 20 cases of diagnosed skin cancer are less aggressive forms called basal cell or squamous cell cancers, which are fairly easy to treat. But six per cent are melanoma, a more serious form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body.
Know the skin you’re in
At every age it’s beautiful, so it’s important to keep a keen eye out for signs of skin cancer. If you notice any unusual moles or marks on your skin, watch them closely. The most common skin cancers – basal and squamous cell – can look like a small, skin-coloured or red knob. The more dangerous melanoma usually begins as a mole that seems to change colour or size.
What are the signs that tell you to have a doctor look at a mole? Remember ABCD:
- Asymmetry: The mole is not round.
- Border: The border is irregular with jagged edges, not smooth.
- Colour: The colour can be uneven across the mole, it can change, or it may seem very different from the other moles on your body.
- Diameter: Cancerous moles are usually larger than six millimetres (the size of a pea or a pencil eraser).
Protect the little ones
Skin cancer is usually caused by the skin's exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. So, the more sun you're exposed to over your lifetime, the higher your risk of developing skin cancer.
It's estimated that up to 80 per cent of a person's total exposure to the sun happens before 18 years of age.
Because of this, it's good to teach children healthy sun habits from the start. One serious sunburn in childhood can increase future cancer risk by as much as 50 per cent.
Babies under six months old are especially susceptible to the glare of sunshine and should be kept out of the sun completely. They're too young for sunscreen, so look for shade and keep them covered, without being too warm, as much as possible.
Keep getting outside
It’s time to flip the switch and recognize that the sun is also very important to our health. It provides us with vitamin D (which we need for our bones), and it can seriously lift our spirits, especially if you’re someone who suffers from seasonal affective disorder.
As with most good things, moderation and good sense are the keys. The goal is to have fun outside and stay safe at the same time. Here are some basic rules:
- Cover up whenever possible. A longer cotton skirt, for example, might feel cooler on a hot day than a pair of shorts, and will help guard you from the sun.
- Wear a hat. Hats keep the sun's rays off the scalp, face, and back of the neck (prime areas for skin cancer). A good hat will also shelter and protect your eyes from the sun's powerful rays.
- Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go out, even if the sun doesn't seem particularly strong, or it’s cloudy. Those damaging ultraviolet rays can penetrate clouds. Always apply sunscreen that has a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 and protects you from both UVA and UVB light.
- Reapply, reapply, reapply. Sunscreen works only as long as you keep putting it on regularly and especially after you've been swimming or sweating, even if your sunblock advertises that it is sweat or water resistant. And don’t forget your lips, ears, nose and toes.
- Avoid the sun when it's at its peak. The sun is at its strongest between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use that time to do activities indoors if possible.
- Check with your pharmacist to see if your medication makes you more sensitive to the sun.
Burn 101 (because it does happen)
If, despite being careful, you still get a sunburn, treat it as you would any other kind of burn:
- Apply cool, wet compresses for 24 to 48 hours.
- Don't apply skin creams within the first two days.
- Drink a lot of water to keep from feeling dehydrated.
- You can use over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if there is some minor pain or discomfort due to the burn.
Severe burns, the kind that produce blisters, need to be checked out. Do not break burn blisters yourself, as this can lead to a skin infection if not properly treated.
So get out there and enjoy the summer! Have fun and stay cool.
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