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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2002)
_ Ml HEBATTaii hed m Aggielife The Battalion Page 3 • Thursday, July 25, 2002 said. The purpoi were f., branch of anch of the k :e T. Laster sai “ United Stale :came a U.S.cii From 1974-1} in intelligence Warning: Hazardous rays ahead y craft and cor: many people are concerned with obtaining and documents sto 1 a broker who s twith Masse,a h, Ayad said, irn with thechee hecks were idonesia, Ayad* i man in Califoi /• 'ities that he has: ^hishani’s famili a wealthy comp :o terrorism, ini’s home inne :ral financial da a December Ji had roughly 57 y and artwork, itement is false; shishani brief!) mid-1990s dea Certain precautions are needed while enjoying the sun during the summer By Melissa Stephenson THE BATTALION As the days of summer quickly come and go. ches in NCAAie; is 14 years of te erience. e head coach, yu rown into beinsill y once in a i But I always wi a be able to talk: t me. Whether if h a girlfriend, diet animate or in ik think my players an sit in here and out it.” ried with an eight »n, Cass is not set- anediaie plans lo j won the iwtiw' p this seasA itired,” Cassjote it come a poin like I’ve done all' id it is time togn an opportunity :e myself coachit out at the same tin o idea what it woii ie to.move on, haoDen,” he said ; be maintaining that perfect summer tan. Bronzed skin seems to be the essential element of the season, but it comes at a costly price. Looking good now could make you sacrifice healthy skin in later years. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), too much time in the sun can result in skin damage, premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancer. And to the dismay of all the sun gods and goddesses out there, any amount of time in the sun without sunscreen is too much. Your only natural protection from the sun is the melanin in your skin, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Therefore, there are many tips to pay attention to when spending time out in the sun. Whether it is a day at the beach or lake, playing outdoor sports or just making the 20 minute hike across campus, your skin needs to be protected. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has compiled a list of tips that should be considered to keep skin safe and healthy. The first thing is that sunscreen or sunblock should be used every day if someone is going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes. This may seem impractical, considering a mere walk to class could take 20 minutes in the glaring sun, but sunscreens have become very user- friendly. Many cosmetic products are available today that contain sunscreen for daily use. Sunscreens also come in a variety of forms including lotions, creams, gels, ointments and wax sticks. The key thing about choosing a sunscreen is the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). The SPF refers to the product’s ability to screen or block out the sun’s burning rays, and the higher the SPF the more protection. Dermatologists recommend sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Also important in sunscreen usage is to apply it 15 to ^minutes before going out into the sun to let the chemicals soak in and become activated. It is also a good idea to reapply it every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating. Sandy Walston, a nurse for Dr. John F. Kaiser at the Scott and White Clinic, said she recom mends a sunblock rather than a sunscreen with a high SPF rating. She said the key is it blocks and deflects the sun’s harmful UVB rays. Disappointing as it may be, tanning oils of lotions ^^ do not substitute for a sunscreen. Tanning oils do not contain suf ficient amounts of sunscreens and usually have an SPF of less than 2. Also remember to apply a lip balm with SPF of 15 or higher because lips contain no melanin and will burn easily. Although sunscreens are a vital part of maxi mum sun protection, wide brimmed hats, sun glasses and protective clothing are also impor tant. The FDA recommends avoiding midday sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and " ' 4 p.m. While this might be the prime time to enjoy outdoor activi ties, it is when the sun’s rays are the strongest and most dangerous. In addition to all the pre ventative measures to take in keeping healthy skin, it is impor tant to know what to look for if 'v v /' damage has already been done. The - effects of overexposure to the sun may not be seen immediately, and could take up to 24 hours before full damage is visible. First degree sunburns cause redness and will peel and heal within a few days. The AAD says burns are best treated with cool baths and moisturizers or over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. The AAD also says taking aspirin may lessen early development of sunburn. Second degree sunburns, on the other hand, are more ^ ^ severe and blister. If the burn affects large area and is accompanied by a headache, chills or fever, it is a good idea to seek medical help. The AAD recommends everyone examine their own skin and seek out a dermatologist if they find anything unusual. “Unusual” would be persisting or recurring scaly areas, a sore or open area that will not completely heal, any new or growing lump or a pigmented area that shows any change. It urges people to check moles on their body and follow the ABCD rule: asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, and diameter larger than 6mm. If a mole has any one of these characteristics, it is advisable to see a doctor. Although everyone should do a self-check reg ularly, some people need to be especially careful in doing so. Characteristics such as light hair color, freckles, blue, green or gray eyes, fair skin and skin that burns easily are an indication of being more susceptible to a bum. Anyone who had many blistering sunburns as a child, spent a lot of time in the sun throughout their life or has a fam ily member with skin cancer will need to do an extensive skin self-check or see a dermatologist. Walston said patients that come to the dermatol ogist usually receive a 30 minuu. ..^ad-to-tc-. exam. They inspect evdry inch of skin that has ever been exposed to the sun including the scalp, ears, and feet which can be overlooked in a self-check. “We recommend for everyone who spends time in the sun to receive a dermatologist exam every six months,” Walston said. “The sooner you find a problem area, the easier it is to remove or cure.” All these precautions and inspections may seem to take the fun out of enjoying the long days of summer, but they are not meant to. Taking these tips into consideration could save a life. The AAD reports that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the - ~ United States, with more than one mil- ^ lion new cases diagnosed each year. 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