Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog

Use Sunscreen, Don't Get Burned

By: Joanne | July 08, 2008 | Category: Health

In the past, I didn’t think too much about sun exposure; as long as I didn’t suffer a really terrible burn, I felt like everything was fine. Then a few years ago my father died of skin cancer and the reality of sun exposure and skin damage began to sink in. It’s summertime and we’re all spending more time outdoors – at the pool, the beach, the garden or just playing in the yard, so now’s a good time to be thinking about our skin.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma of the skin this year. That’s a lot of people and if you’re like me and don’t want to become a statistic, you’ve got to protect yourself every day.

There are lots of ways to protect your skin from the damaging UVA and UVB rays of the sun. The most obvious way to protect your skin is to apply sunscreen. Be sure to use a sunscreen with an appropriate SPF (sun protection factor) and be sure to apply it early and often. Sunscreen blocks the sun’s harmful rays. Other things you can do are cover your skin with clothing, wear a hat, and stay in the shade. And don’t forget to protect your eyes and wear sunglasses that filter UV rays.

So this summer when you’re heading outside, sing this little song and do the sunscreen dance.