Calling all sports fans!

Sports Fans, What’s Your Strategy for Fall?


When the cooler weather arrives, football rivalries heat up, bringing fans to the bleachers.
You may think that cheering on your favorite team is a safe enough pastime, but sitting in the stands can be dangerous. The sun’s damaging UV rays can harm your skin, regardless of the temperature. The majority of the UV rays that hit the earth, in fact, are ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which are present in about equal intensity throughout the year. Sun protection is a year-round commitment!

Excessive exposure to UV radiation is considered the main cause of approximately 90 percent of all skin cancers, and is also associated with eye damage, including cataracts; premature skin aging; and reduced immune system functioning. But you can stay safe during football season, and beyond, with The Skin Cancer Foundation’s guide to spectator sports.

Wear Sunscreen
You hear it all the time! Wear sunscreen. Choose a product with an SPF of 15 or higher, and some combination of the following UVA-blocking ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. Apply a full ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to the entire body, including a nickel-sized dollop to the face, 30 minutes before heading outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after sweating heavily. And don’t skip the sunscreen if it’s overcast: Up to 80 percent of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation) can penetrate clouds — and harm your skin.

Dress the Part
The more skin you cover, the better. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants protect the skin on your arms and legs, and are perfect for the changeable fall weather. If you’re worried about overheating, look for clothes made of breathable materials, like certain microfibers and specially-treated athletic wear. For cooler days, densely-woven, dark-colored fabrics (like deep blue denim) are heavy enough to keep you warm, and lightweight enough for comfort.
A baseball cap may announce your team affiliation, but a hat with at least a 3" brim all around (such as an outback or bucket hat) will protect your head, neck, and shoulders — the parts of the body that sustain the most sun damage, and the most common sites for precancers and cancers.

Cover Your Eyes
Between five and 10 percent of of all skin cancers occur on the eyelid, and UV radiation can also lead to eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Protect your eyes with a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. For the most sun protection, choose larger-sized frames that shield the eyes, eyelids, and surrounding areas, or a wraparound style with side shields.
Look for a pair of sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of UV radiation (the sunglasses’ tag or packaging should say this). Make sure your shades fit comfortably, and don’t slip down your nose!
If you’ll be watching a sport on a solid-color surface (like grass or Astroturf), brown-tinted lenses provide great color contrast and visibility.

Sit Strategically
If possible, sit in the shady section of the stadium or field — under an awning or overhang, if possible. If you can’t find a seat out of the sun, consider bringing a portable shade structure or an umbrella with you.
The more skin you cover, the better. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants protect the skin on your arms and legs, and are perfect for the changeable fall weather. If you’re worried about overheating, look for clothes made of breathable materials, like certain microfibers and specially-treated athletic wear. For cooler days, densely-woven, dark-colored fabrics (like deep blue denim) are heavy enough to keep you warm, and lightweight enough for comfort.

Read more at http://www.skincancer.org/

Repair and even reverse signs of sun damage!

Are you concerned about wrinkles, brown spots, and leathery skin? Following some simple guidelines from The Skin Cancer Foundation can help you repair and possibly even reverse these signs of skin aging, up to 90 percent of which are caused by the sun.

Overexposure to the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) light can also lead to skin cancer and precancers like actinic keratoses (AKs). Since sun damage accumulates over time, it’s never too late to start a sun protection regimen.

Although most people know enough to wear sunscreen when the sun is beating down, “Protecting your skin from the sun does not end with the summer months,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, a New York City dermatologist and educational spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation. “By carefully practicing sun protection year-round, you can prevent further sun damage and may even reverse some of the damage already done.”

To help stop or even reverse sun damage to the skin:

- Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen is one of the keys to radiant, youthful-looking skin. Daily use may even lower your long-term risk of skin cancer. By reducing your daily sun exposure, sunscreen allows your skin time to heal and your immune system the chance to repair some existing damage.
- Exfoliate. The buildup of stratum corneum (the dead, outermost skin cell layer) can make skin appear blotchy and uneven. Also, remnants of self tanning products can collect in typically dry areas (such as the elbows), causing the skin to lose its luster and appear “dirty.” Loofahs, scrubs, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)* cleansers, and home microdermabrasion kits can remove dead skin cells, leaving skin looking smoother.
- Bleach the brown spots. Skin lightener does not actually make the skin white; it simply helps to lighten accumulations of unwanted color. Ask your dermatologist for details.
- Hydrate! Summer exposure to sun, chlorine, and salt water can dry out your skin — even the heels of your feet can be affected. Try a hand and body cream, and, for the heels, a moisturizing foot cream. A moisturizer with AHA or facial serum with hyaluronic acid can plump up dry skin around the eyes, making skin instantly appear less wrinkled. Continued use may help stimulate the production of new collagen, a protein that helps give skin its texture and appearance.

-Visit a dermatologist. Professional laser treatments can improve everything from blotchiness and discoloration to wrinkles. Photodynamic therapy — laser or intense pulsed light in combination with a topical solution known as Levulan — can remove scaly patches of actinic keratoses from your skin.

* These products can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Use with caution!

For more information about sun sensitivity and other additional information go to http://www.skincancer.org/

If You Can Spot It You Can Help Stop It!

WHY ARE SELF-EXAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT?

Did you know, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, afflicting more than a million Americans each year, a number that is rising rapidly. It is also the easiest to cure, if diagnosed and treated early. When allowed to progress, however, skin cancer can result in disfigurement and even death.

Who Should Do It
You should! And if you have children, begin teaching them how to at an early age so they can do it themselves by the time they are teens. Coupled with yearly skin exams by a dermatologist, self-exams are the best way to ensure that you don’t become a statistic in the battle against skin cancer.

When To Do It
Performed regularly, self-examination can alert you to changes in your skin and aid in the early detection of skin cancer. It should be done often enough to become a habit, but not so often as to feel like a bother. For most people, once a month is ideal, but ask your doctor if you should do more frequent checks.
You may find it helpful to have a dermatologist do a full body exam first, to assure you that any existing spots, freckles, or moles are normal or treat any that may not be. After the first few times, self-examination should take no more than 10 minutes – a small investment in what could be a life-saving procedure.

What To Look For
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Because each has many different appearances, it is important to know the early warning signs. Look especially for change of any kind. Do not ignore a suspicious spot simply because it does not hurt. Skin cancers may be painless, but dangerous all the same. If you notice one or more of the warning signs, see a doctor right away, preferably one who specializes in diseases of the skin.

The Warning Signs
- A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored
-A mole, birthmark, beauty mark, or any brown spot that:
changes color
increases in size or thickness
changes in texture
is irregular in outline
is bigger than 6mm or 1/4”, the size of a pencil eraser
appears after age 21
- A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode, or bleed
- An open sore that does not heal within three weeks

If You Spot It...
Don’t overlook it. Don’t delay. See a physician, preferably one who specializes in diseases of the skin, if you note any change in an existing mole, freckle, or spot or if you find a new one with any of the warning signs of skin cancer.

Protection Stops It, Too

About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Do not burn.
Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.
Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
See your dermatologist every year for a professional skin exam.
Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.

Read more at http://www.skincancer.org/

Another Reason to See Your Dermatologist

Can you spot a potentially deadly melanoma? Chances are your dermatologist can.
A recent study showed that the majority of all melanomas (the deadliest form of skin cancer) were discovered by dermatologists.
Dermatologists detected more than 56 percent of the melanomas found in a survey of 126 skin cancer patients, according to the Archives of Dermatology. Through the use of full-body skin exams, dermatologists were also more likely than patients to detect melanomas at an earlier stage, when they are thinner, and more easily treated.

Read more at skincancer.org