Observed annually on the Friday before Memorial Day, Don’t Fry Day is a reminder to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun on this day and every day. Get outside and have fun this summer – and be sun smart!

Skin cancer is one of the most common – and one of the most preventable – kinds of cancer. Almost 5.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year – more than breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers combined. In fact, 1 out of every 5 Americans will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most cases of skin cancer are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, tanning beds or sunlamps.

UV rays can damage skin cells. In the short term, this damage can cause a sunburn. Over time, UV damage adds up, leading to changes in skin texture, premature skin aging and sometimes skin cancer.

To reduce your risk for skin cancer, never tan intentionally and do not use tanning beds. And whenever you head outdoors, follow the Environmental Protection Agency’s four simple reminders for protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays: slip, slop, slap and wrap.

• Slip on a long-sleeved shirt or other clothing to protect your skin from the sun.
• Slop on sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and reapply it at least every two hours. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention recommends sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher with protection from both UVA and UVB radiation.
• Slap on a broad-brimmed hat to protect the back of your neck and ears.
• Wrap on a pair of sunglasses. The kind that wraps around the sides of your face is best.

To be sun smart, make sunscreen a part of your daily routine, applying it 30 minutes before you go outside. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the rays are the strongest. Whenever you are outside, stay in the shade if you can.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention also suggests caution around outdoor surfaces such as water, snow and sand that can reflect the sun, increasing your chance of sunburn.

Be sure to protect children from the sun’s rays, as well. Being sunburned at a young age puts people at risk for skin cancer later in life.

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Environmental Protection Agency
National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention