With just a few weeks left in the summer, be sure you are still
playing it safe in the sun. Skin cancer is the most common form
of cancer in the United States. With over 58 thousand people
diagnosed in 2007, Kentucky is at the top of this list. There
are several things you can do to prevent skin damage from over
exposure to the sun and lower your risk of getting skin cancer.
It is important to remember sun damage does not only happen
while at the pool or beach. Often, sunburn occurs on cool, windy
days when people forget to wear sunscreen. Unprotected skin can
be damaged in as little as 15 minutes, so do not wait until you
or your child are a little pink to apply sunscreen. It can take
up to 12 hours for skin to show the full effects of sun exposure
and by then it is too late, the skin has already been damaged.
Gerald Elliott, MD, Lexington Clinic dermatologist warns, “Just
because you’re not getting burned doesn’t mean you are not at
risk for developing skin cancer later in life. Any pigment added
to your sk