The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal

MAY 2014

The 2012 edition of The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal features medically reviewed, reader-friendly articles such as tanning, the increasing incidence of skin cancer diagnoses among young women, & the prevalence of melanoma among white males over 50.

Issue link: https://skincancer.epubxp.com/i/319518

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S K I N C A N C E R F O U N D A T I O N J O U R N A L 46 B efore you set of on an extended road trip, you check the tires, oil, and seat belts, right? But people often forget one safety measure: sun protection. Too many travelers come home with tans or sunburns, multiply- ing their lifetime risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers 1 and 86 percent of mela- nomas 2 are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and on the road, the possibilities for UV exposure abound: when you're going to and from the car, when you're out sightseeing or engaged in other activi- ties, and even when you're in the car. Fortunately, you can pro- tect yourself and your road- mates by incorporating some simple strategies into your daily travel activities. Con- sider sun safety when plan- ning each aspect of your trip. Before You Go W hen you're packing, include sun pro- tection. Start with broad-brimmed hats, UV-blocking sunglasses, long pants, and long-sleeved clothes for the whole family. If you'll be hitting beaches or pools, pack long swim trunks and rash guards or swim shirts. A large beach umbrella is another good idea. And don't forget sunscreen. It takes one ounce (two tablespoons) of sun- screen to cover all exposed skin prop- erly, and if you reapply a couple of times on a given day, that's at least a 3-oz. bottle right there. A family of four would thus go through at least a 12-oz bottle in a single day. So do the math, and bring several ample bottles. En Route I n a recent study, only 27 percent of people surveyed reported using sun- screen in the car, believing they were fully sun-protected by the windows. 3 But the surprising truth is, most cars do not properly protect you from UV damage. Ordinarily, only the wind- shield comes laminated with adequate protection against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB) rays. While the side and back windows block most of the sun's UVB rays, they allow about 60 percent of its UVA rays to pass through. UVA penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB, causing DNA dam- age that can accelerate skin aging and lead to skin cancer. However, you can obtain permanent road trip protection by buying a car with front windows that f lter out both On the Road to Sun Safety Lifestyle Whether the top is up or down, cars leave you vulnerable to UV damage. Pack sun protection before leaving on a trip. Apply one oz. of sunscreen at least every two hours outdoors.

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