The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, July 25, 2002, Image 3

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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. It
is estimated that 87,900 people
will be diagnosed with melanoma,
the deadliest form of skin cancer, in
2002, and approximately 7,400 deaths will be
attributed to it.
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