Precautions are key to healthy skin and reducing your risk.
With Southern California’s sunny climate, it’s no wonder people enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends visiting the beach, walking, hiking, and camping.
However, did you know that spending too much time in the sun and its harmful ultraviolet, or UV, rays can cause skin cancer, a potentially deadly disease?
“It’s important to know that regardless of your gender and race, you need to protect your skin from UV radiation to lessen your risk of skin cancer,” said Evette Ramsay, MD, a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park.
“Using sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher is advisable, and it should be reapplied as needed, including every 1 to 2 hours when in the water or when perspiring. However, using sunscreen alone isn’t always enough during prolonged sun exposure. That’s why you also should consider taking other steps to protect yourself.”
Dr. Ramsay offered the following tips to lessen your chance of getting skin cancer:
“It may not be possible to completely prevent skin cancer, but taking these precautions will help,” Dr. Ramsay said. “Also, keep an eye on new spots or growths on your skin as they could be early signs of skin cancer. With early detection, skin cancer can be treated more easily. That’s why it’s important to regularly have your skin checked by a doctor.”
For more information on skin cancer prevention, check out these care instructions.