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Follow
these precautionary measures and protect yourself and your family from skin cancer.
1. Always seek shade while the sun is at its peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
2. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen having a sun protection factor
(SPF) of 15 or higher.
3. Cover yourself with clothes such as broad
brimmed hat and UV blocking sunglasses.
4. Try to avoid artificial
form of sun tanning devices and tanning parlors
5. Keep newborns away
from sun and apply sunscreen to babies above six months of age.
6.
Inform your family members and teach children about good sun protective practices.
7. Examine your skin from head to toe every month.
8. Get a professional
examination of your skin annually.
9. Always avoid sun tanning
and more important blistering sunburns that doubles your chances of melanoma.
We can enjoy some exposure to sunlight but too much can be dangerous for
our skin leading to sunburns and skin cancer. An UV index has been developed by
National Weather Service and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which
informs people to adopt preventive measures so as to prevent overexposure to sun's
rays. The index predicts UV intensity levels on a scale of 1 to 11+ whereby low
indicates minimum risk and 11+ is taken as extreme risk of overexposure.
| Category |
UV Index Number |
Sun protective measures |
| Low |
0 to 2 | Wear
sunglasses on bright days. During winters snow reflection can increase UV strength.
If you get frequent sunburns cover up yourself and apply sunscreen. |
| Moderate | 3
to 5 | Cover
up yourself and use sunscreen and seek shade during midday when sunrays are the
strongest. | | High | 6
to 7 | You
need protection against sunburn. Cover up and wear sunglasses, hat and apply sunscreen.
Also avoid time in the sun during 10a.m.to 4 p.m. | | Very
High | 8
to 10 | You
need to take more precautions because unprotected skin will damage and burn quickly.
Cover up and wear sunglasses, hat and apply sunscreen. Also avoid time in the
sun during 10a.m.to 4 p.m. | | Extreme | 11+ | You
need to take all precautions because unprotected skin can burn in minutes. Beach
goers should remember that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and
thus increase exposure to UV. Cover up and wear sunglasses, hat and apply sunscreen.
Also avoid time in the sun during 10a.m.to 4 p.m. |
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