Don't Fry Day - is Friday!

Memorial Day weekend is considered the unofficial start of summer and it is upon us!

In central Iowa, we’ve mowed our lawns in jeans and sweatshirts this spring rather than shorts and tees. We’ve huddled under blankets at track meets and baseball games. We’ve even had a late frost this spring.

 

But rest assured, the pools and aquatic parks are getting ready and we will wear our shorts and flipflops in comfort and not because we’re just sick of long pants and socks.

The more skin we expose to ultraviolet (UV) rays, the greater our risk for UV damage. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention says that skin cancer is on the rise in the United States. It is estimated by the American Cancer Society that one American dies every hour from skin cancer. The ACS estimates that there will be more than 76,250 new cases of malignant melanoma throughout the country. Nearly 1,000 of those cases will be Iowans according to the Iowa Cancer Consortium. Malignant melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. More than two million cases of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers will be diagnosed this year in the U.S.

And those rays don’t just come from the sun. UV rays from tanning beds and lamps are on the World Health Organization’s list of the most dangerous forms of cancer-causing radiation.

The good news is that skin cancer is preventable. It’s all about managing our risk and exposure to UV rays. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designates the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to help raise awareness to limit overexposure while enjoying the outdoors. The organization encourages us all to follow these helpful tips:

·       Do not burn or tan.

·       Seek shade.

·       Wear sun-protective clothing.

·       Generously apply sunscreen.

·       Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand.

·       Get vitamin D safely.

A clever way to remember this and to get kids in the habit of being careful with sun exposure is the phrase, “Slip! Slop! Slap! Slide!” – slip on a shirt, slop on broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, slap on a wide-brimmed hat, and slide on sunglasses.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention says that this advice is really standard for everyone, but some persons with a family history of skin center, those who have moles or freckles, or people with previous serious sunburns are at a higher risk for skin cancer. Bottom line, they stress that protection from excessive UV exposure is something all of us need to be doing, regardless of our age.

Sources:

National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention  http://www.skincancerprevention.org/

American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/healthy/morewaysacshelpsyoustaywell/acs-skin-cancer-prevention-activities