What’s fashionable often influences our choices-how we look, what we do, even what we think. In Victorian times, the fashion was for ladies to have pale, milky-white skin, indicating that they were financially well-to-do and did not have to toil in the sun. More recently, a bronzed, suntanned look has been considered fashionable, and even “healthy.”

Yet just the opposite is true. A tan is a sign of skin damage! It is proven scientific fact that overexposure to the sun damages skin, causing cumulative, permanent, irreversible harm, including (but not limited to) skin cancer. Researchers have found that the damage is caused by two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation: UV-A and UV-B, not just UV-B as previously believed. How much UV exposure depends on how strong the sunlight is, how long you are exposed to it and whether or not your skin is protected.

As scientists uncover increasing evidence of the dangers of UV radiation, the reasons to seek shade also increase. Among the harmful effects of the sun:

Skin Cancer - More than one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually, making it the most common form of cancer. The primary cause is exposure to UV rays. There are several different types of skin cancer. The most common are:

• Malignant melanoma - melanoma spreads rapidly to other organs and is fatal in about 10 percent of cases despite the best available treatment.
• Squamous cell cancer and basal cell cancer - these are the two most common non-melanoma skin cancers

Premature “Aging” - Even ordinary sun exposure causes injury to the skin, previously thought to be due to age, but now recognized simply as damage. This damage is cumulative over the years, resulting in wrinkling and sagging as well as rough, leathery skin.

Reduced Immunity to Infections - By damaging blood vessels beneath your skin, UV-A and UV-B rays can decrease your body’s ability to fight off infections.

What Can You Do

The old rule of thumb-to avoid being outside at midday when the ultraviolet rays are strongest-is no longer good enough. Scientists have discovered that UV-A rays-which are present from sunrise to sunset-are 100 times greater than UV-B rays. Although UV-A rays will not produce a sunburn as quickly as UV-B, they penetrate the skin more deeply and are more strongly linked to skin cancer and early aging. And unlike UV-B radiation, UV-A rays are just as strong in winter as in summer.

But what if you work outside of love spending time outdoors? The good news is that there are many ways to protect yourself. And preventing skin cancer is much easier than curing it. Follow these tips:

• Use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Use it even on hazy days, since the harmful UV rays can still get through.
• Because the PABA (para-amino-benzoic acid) in most sunscreens blocks UV-B rays, but not UV-A, be sure to choose a brand that contains benzophenones or zinc oxide to also block UV-A rays.
• Be sure to put your sunscreen on about half-hour before you go outside.
• If your fun-in-the-sun involves water (swimming, boating, water skiing, etc.), remember to reapply sunscreen after getting wet. Also reapply if you are exercising enough to perspire.
• Wear a hat with a brim wide enough to shade your ears, back of neck and face.
• Wear long sleeved shirts and light-weight pants.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV radiation (which can cause cataracts in the eyes)
• If you take any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, ask you doctor or pharmacist if they increase sun sensitivity.
• Stay away from tanning booths and lamps. Since they also use UV rays, including UV-A, they are no safer than natural sunlight.

Warning Signs

If skin cancer strikes, early detection is your best weapon. Common warning signs include any new skin growth, any bleeding sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole.

Check your skin regularly for any changes or new growths. What to watch for:

Signs and Symptoms

For Non-Melanoma (Basal and squamous cell carcinoma)	For Melanoma Remember "ABCD"
Smooth, pearly or translucent lumps that may bleed or crust over Smooth, pearly or translucent lumps that may bleed or crust over	Asymmetry-one half of a mole looks different than the other half
Flat red spots that are scaly, crusty or smooth	Border irregularity-the edges of a mole are ragged, blurred or notched
Firm reddish lumps	Color-does the shade vary from one part of the mole to the other?
Persistent, scaly, reddish or brownish patches on parts of the skin that have been exposed to the sun	Diameter-the mole is larger than a pencil eraser