Broward College Expert Offers Five Skin Cancer Prevention Tips

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (April 27, 2015) – Skin cancer is on the rise in the United States and continues to be a major health concern. Floridians are especially susceptible, so during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, observed in May, Broward College Associate Dean Catherine

Johnson is offering five tips on how to limit the risk with several easy, everyday tips and reminders –   

Avoid the sun's rays when they are usually strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. It’s best to seek the shade under a pavilion roof, leafy tree or sun umbrella. Favorite outdoor activities should be rescheduled, such as visiting the beach in the evening rather than midday. 

Cover up with clothing. Clothing can be the most effective form of sun protection, especially densely woven and bright or dark colored fabrics, which offer the best defense. Wraparound sunglasses shield both eyes and the surrounding skin, helping prevent serious conditions from cataracts to melanomas of the eye and eyelid. Also, hats with a brim of 3" or greater offer significant protection for the face and back of the neck. 

Use a broad spectrum Ultraviolet Alpha (UVA) and Ultraviolet Beta (UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. Apply sunscreen to the entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Repeat every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessively sweating.

Avoid tanning and never use tanning beds. Tanning is never safe. In fact, it is the skin's attempt to prevent further damage by creating a wall of darker pigment. Tanning beds are harmful because new high-pressure sunlamps actually emit UV doses as much as 12 times that of the sun. When unprotected skin is overexposed to UV and damaged, it leads to mutations in skin cell DNA and cancer.  

Visit a dermatologist or physician, in addition to performing a head-to-toe self-exam. A professional will be able to spot a possible skin irregularity and intervene before it worsens or turns cancerous.

For more information, contact Angela Nicoletti at 954-201-7939 or anicolet@broward.edu.

-BC-