When you are outdoors or on the beach enjoying yourself, it is imperative for you to know the long term risk factors associated with excessive sun exposure on your skin. Skin cancer is usually caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun. These ultraviolet rays are responsible for the DNA damage resulting in skin cancer.
Do you know skin cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States? It is one of the most common diagnosed malignancies, and about one out of every three new cancers arises from the skin.
Sun exposure between 10 AM and 4 PM is thought to be most harmful. So, the best way to protect this outer layering of your body is to wear protective clothing and to liberally apply sunscreen on your body. 90 percent of all skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are constantly exposed to the sun, like the ears, face, and hands.
Are you aware that people who sunburn easily are more prone to develop skin cancer?
People with light skin tones are more prone to skin cancer than those with darker skin tones. This is because darker skins have more melanin in the skin, and, it is this melanin which protects the skin from sun damage.
20 minutes of sun exposure is all that you need to get your daily dose of the valuable vitamin D.
But, in case you need to spend longer hours in the sun, generously apply the sun screen (with an SPF of at lest 30) all over you body, wear a hat and other protective clothing, so that, not only will you protect yourself from skin cancer, but, also avoid you skin from ageing early.
via:iht