California Health Provider Cautions About Prolonged Exposure to Sun

July 26, 2008 - PRLog -- It's a fact of life that prolonged exposure to the sun, no matter what age you are, can result in skin cancer in later life. At the very least, it will significantly increase the risks of skin cancer. Don't take the chance when you can take simple steps now to cover up.

Cover up the exposed areas, such as your head, arms, face, legs and back. This isn't to say you can't sit in the sun; just use common sense when doing so, and use a very high SPF lotion every day. The face in particular is a very delicate area, and skin cancer can begin as a small, seemingly harmless spot that spreads.

Although environment and heredity (things beyond your control) play a major role in cancer development, it is also a proven fact that ultraviolet light (something you can control) damages the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer. Most people get up to 80 percent of their lifetime exposure to the sun by the time they are 18. This sends a really clear message to parents about their children's health– "Cover up!"

Fact: tanning is actually your body's natural response to exposure to ultraviolet light. A suntan functions to protect your skin from further damage. However, this does not mean the tan protects anyone from cancer. Skin cancer does not happen overnight; it develops over years, which means today's sunburn could be the precursor for the skin cancer later.

At one time the percentage of ultraviolet light hitting the Earth wasn't as great as it is today. Thanks to pollution and other environmental factors, the ozone layer that once protected us is now too thin to make much of a difference. Hence higher levels of ultraviolet radiation are a fact of life in the 21st century.

Protect the skin with high SPF lotions and limit time outside "catching a few rays." Be familiar with the types of skin cancers caused by the sun, and know what they look like. If a "spot" looks funny, don't wait to have it looked at.

Skin cancer has many faces and the most common sign is a change on the skin. A person might notice a lump or sore that won't heal. The lump might be waxy looking, perhaps a bit shiny, or looks reddish brown. Cancer can appear as flat red spots as well. They're usually rough or scaly. See a doctor immediately if any of these signs are noticed.

Cancer doesn't just happen on the arms or neck; it quite often happens on the face, simply because of the amount of exposure to the sun it gets as opposed to other parts of the body. Most often the types of skin cancer that appears on the face is of the basal or squamous cell variety. To be safe, if any changes are noted in the texture of the skin, see a physician immediately.

To learn more please visit: http://www.mattsinsurance4ca.com

# # #

Adviatech is a search engine optimization and online marketing company.Adviatech Corp., PR for submit@adviatech.com
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017