Test Your Sun Savvy

If I use sunscreen, I will be protected against skin cancer.  

False. If you don't apply sunscreen correctly, it won't do the job. Select a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Put on the sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside so the lotion has time to soak into the skin and dry. Use plenty of lotion and spread it evenly over every part of exposed skin. For lips, use a stick preparation rather than a lotion. Reapply sunscreen every two hours while enjoying dry activities and every 80 minutes while swimming.

Even when applied correctly, sunscreens are not perfect. They don't block all the sun's harmful rays. Your best defense is to seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is most intense and wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and tightly weaved clothing.

Cloudy days are just as dangerous as sunny ones.

True. Even on cloudy days, UV radiation reaches the earth and can cause sunburns. Look to the UV Index in the local weather report for guidelines on how strong the sun's rays will be on a given day. The index is calculated based on the sun's elevation, cloud cover and ozone. Take extra precautions when the UV Index is more than five.

Skin cancer is easily cured.

False. Skin cancer can be cured if diagnosed and treated early, but one type of skin cancer, called malignant melanoma, can spread to the rest of the body from a very small size.

Childhood burns are the most dangerous.

True. Your skin remembers every suntan and sunburn. Damage accumulates over time when radiation from the sun changes the DNA, or genetic material, in skin cells. As those cells reproduce, the damaged DNA is passed from one cell to another. Young people have vigorous immune systems that keep those damaged cells in check, but over time, the immune system gets weaker and less able to stop the altered cells from turning into skin cancer. Eighty percent of sun damage occurs before age 18, but the very earliest incidence of skin cancer occurs 15 years after the sun exposure.

Tanning beds are just as dangerous as the sun.

True. Sun lamps and tanning beds mainly emit UVA radiation, which is less likely to cause a burn than UVB radiation from the sun, but that doesn't mean tanning lamps are safe. UVA rays cause immune system damage and can prematurely age skin. New research has suggested a link between UVA radiation and malignant melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Related links:
Loyola Center for Skin Cancer
Center for Skin Cancer Brochure (264K)
Year Round Skin Protection Brochure (422K)