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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47 UVA and UVB. Or, you can have UV- f ltering f lm added to all the windows, front and back.These items can block almost 100 percent of UV rays. (See "Why You Should Sun-Proof Your Windows," in the box below.) If you're not ready to take such steps, it's important to use sunscreen and wear a long-sleeved shirt when driving. Wearing a hat in the car can provide some extra protection for your face and neck, while helping to protect your eyes from glare. Daily Sorties I n the course of your road trip, are you heading out for any day hikes? Swim- ming or surf ng? Hitting local restau- rants and shops? Each of these activities demands dif erent types of sun protec- tion. If you'll be in and out of shops and restaurants on a given day, wear layers so that you can take the long-sleeved shirts and sweaters of indoors. Wear your hat and sunglasses while walk- ing between stores. Use an SPF 15 or higher, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen, which should hold up well for your brief exposures outdoors. For extended outdoor activities like a day hike or bird-watching, wear long pants and long sleeves to protect against the sun (and poison ivy and bug bites!), and use a water-resistant broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sun- screen with an SPF of 30 or higher, reapplying every two hours (more if you're sweating). Don't forget a broad- brimmed hat to help shield your face, neck, and the tops of your ears from the sun, and an SPF 30+ lip balm. The importance of hats cannot be overstated: patients with melanomas of the head and neck—including the scalp—are almost twice as likely to die from the disease as patients with melanomas on other areas, such as the trunk. 4 If you're outside swimming or surf ng, reapply sunscreen (and ideally put on a dry shirt, since UV penetrates wet shirts more easily) every time you come out of the water. Since no single sun protection meth- od is perfect or complete, it's impor- tant to combine strategies—seeking shade, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, and wearing hats, sunglasses, sun- screen, and protective clothing—based on your activities and what works best for you and your family. Some family members, for example, may prefer sun- screen creams or lotions, while some may prefer alcohol-based sprays. Re- member, the best form of sun protec- tion is one that you will actually use. R esearch shows that UV damage is more extreme on the side of the body closer to the window: long-time drivers have rougher, more wrinkled skin on their window side. 5 They also have more skin cancers: nearly 53 percent of skin cancers in the US occur on the left (the driversÕ side) of the body, according to research in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 6 Plus, babies and young childrenÑwho have less protective skin pigmentÑoften sit in back, where none of the glass (even darker glass found in SUVs and minivans) offers adequate UVA protection. With UVA-fi ltering window glass or fi lm, you can prevent sun damage without having to use other sun protection in the car. When youÕre buying a new car, for example, especially a high-end auto, inquire about models that come equipped with tempered solar-absorbing glass on the front side windows; these can block 99 percent of UVB and UVA light. At present, solar-absorbing glass is not generally available in the US for the rear passenger win- dows, though it is starting to become available abroad. Another option: have window fi lms added. Combining UVA absorbers in varying strengths, the transparent fi lms are available in tints ranging from clear to dark for vehiclesÕ side and back windows; they screen out more than 99 percent of UVA and UVB without reducing visibility. UV-protective window fi lm is avail- able worldwide. For professional instal- lation, look online or in the yellow pages under Òglass tintingÓ or Òglass coatings.Ó Several companies have earned The Skin Cancer FoundationÕs Seal of Recommendation, offering assur- ance of safety and effective sun protection. Why You Should Sun-proof Your Windows T he following window fi lm and window glass companies have earned The Skin Cancer FoundationÕs Seal of Recom- mendation for sun protection. The testing requirement is 99 percent or greater blockage of UVA and UVB radiation. Window Film (Automotive/Residential) 3M Johnson Window Films LLumar Window Film Nexfi l Rayno Window Film Solar Gard and Panorama Glass (Automotive/Residential) AGC Asahi Glass Company ClimaGuard SPF Ð Guardian Industries Pilkington EZ-KOOL Glass Products References available on p. 96

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