Summer Safety Mini-Series: Sunscreen and Cancer Prevention

Friday, July 29th, 2022 -- 4:00 PM

Riley: "I'm speaking with Clark County's Lead Public Health Nurse, Kelsey Wussow, and we are in the middle of the dog days of summer, so what a perfect opportunity to review a few simple yet very important summer safety tips to ensure we can continue enjoying the heat, all while maintaining our health & safety."

"Topics of interest will be presented as a three-part miniseries. These topics include sunscreen and cancer prevention, heat stress-related illness, and water safety. So, today's topic, of course, is going to be sunscreen and cancer prevention."

"So, Kelsey, can you please talk about what people can do to keep there skin safe this summer?" 

Kelsey: "It is no secret that spending time outdoors can be very good for our physical and mental health, as it allows  us to engage in physical activity and reduces stress."

"Summertime in Wisconsin is something we all look forward to and of course we always encourage folks to get  outside, be active, and enjoy the sunshine. Although the sun offers many benefits like vitamin D and adds that  sun-kissed, dark complexion that most of us crave, we need to be reminded about ways to protect our skin from the sun; ultimately reducing our risk of skin cancer."

"According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most common form of  cancer in the United States. The most recent data we have available is from 2019, and at that time, 88,059  new cases of Melanomas of the skin were reported, and 8,092 people died of this cancer, in the United States."

"Per the CDC, most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet or UV light. This is an invisible  kind of radiation that comes from not only the sun, but also tanning beds and sunlamps."

"These UV rays can  damage our skin cells. Not only are these UV rays harmful during the summer, but also on cloudy & cool  days, as they can reflect off surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow."

"CDC states that in the continental  US, UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 AM to 4 PM. There are several UV index tools & apps, which  forecast the strength of UV rays each day. If the UV index is 3 or higher in your area, it is extremely important  to protect your skin from the sun."

"There are several ways to do this; the most obvious being, use sunscreen. However, it is not quite that  simple. To gain the best protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays, you must use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that  blocks both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of 15 or higher."

"SPF stands for sun protection factor.  Sunscreens are assigned a SPF, which is a number that rates how well they block UV rays. Higher numbers  indicate more protection. And you can’t stop there; sunscreen wears off."

"You must reapply sunscreen when  out in the sun for more than 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off. It is important to note  that sunscreen should not be used in babies who are 6 months old or younger, according to the US Food &  Drug Administration or FDA. Instead, the FDA recommends keeping infants out of the sun and using protective clothing if they have to be in the sun."

"Other ways to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays, is to stay in the shade, whether under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter. In addition, wear protective clothing when you are outside including when you are in the shade, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants or skirts, when practical."

"Clothing made from tightly woven fabric offers the best protection. A wet t-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors; if you are really  eager, you can seek out clothing, certified under international standards, as offering UV protection." 

"Another way to protect your skin from the sun is to wear a hat that has a brim all the way around that not  only shades your face, but your ears, and the back of your neck. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight  through. If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen, or staying in the shade."

"Lastly, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. Sunglasses can also protect the tender skin around your eyes. Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best  protection."

"Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around  sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side. In summary, skin cancer can be prevented by protecting your skin from the sun."

"Sunscreen is intended to be  combined with other sun-safety approaches such as keeping to the shade, wearing sun-protectant clothing,  hats, and sunglasses. Do these things and you can significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer."

Riley: "Thank you, Kelsey. And, of course, if you'd like to learn more, you can contact the Clark County Health Department or you can consult your personal physician. And we'll be back next Friday with some more summer safety tips."

You can listen to my interview with Kelsey here.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.