Sun exposure and sunburn are the main factors causing the most dangerous form of cancer - melanoma and the most common forms - banal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. But it is precisely this factor that can be controlled. Protect your skin in the sun as you would any other serious hazard.
Which states are most likely to get sunburn? You probably think - Florida or California, or other states with a large number of sunny days a year. But in fact, most often sunburns are recorded in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Wyoming. “The whole point, apparently, in behavioral habits. Northern residents are less likely to lie on the beach and therefore don't take the sun seriously,”says dermatologist Timothy M. Johnson of the University of Michigan.
“While most people know that the sun's rays are dangerous, people nevertheless behave inappropriately,” says Dr. Johnson. “By protecting ourselves from the sun, we protect ourselves not only from burns, but also from premature aging and the possible development of skin cancer.”
Dr. Johnson continues: “Sun protection is especially important when you are young, as people under the age of 18 are responsible for 80% of all sunburn. Sunscreen habits instilled in childhood reduce the risk of developing melanoma."
Dr. Johnson says it's not just sun protection that matters, you also need to know how to protect yourself properly. “Research shows that when we use sunscreens, we do not apply enough to the skin, or we do not protect the entire body. Therefore, the protective effect turns out to be significantly lower than we expected, and in many cases it does not even reach half of what is promised on the label."
Here is Dr. Johnson's top advice: “Use protective equipment whenever you expect to be in the sun for more than twenty minutes. Apply the cream thirty minutes before going outside. Be especially careful when applying the cream on the face, ears, hands. Remember that after two hours the effect of the barrier cream will end. It is necessary to reapply the protection immediately after bathing."
The National Cancer Institute surveyed more than 150,000 citizens and found that 32% of Americans had had sunburn in the previous twelve months. Among those who received burns, the number of young people under 18 was 80%. Sun exposure triples the risk of skin cancer.
