Hello Sunshine!
Nothing like summer and sunshine! However, it’s best to enjoy it while keeping some simple cancer
prevention tips in mind!
Remember the following information:
Protect your eyes! Many people wear sunglasses for fashion, but it is important to wear them to
protect your eyes. Sunglasses can help prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun that can
cause damage to the eyes. It’s best to use sunglasses with both UVA (longer wavelength) and UVB
(shorter wavelength) protection. You can find sunglasses with 99-100% coverage. Most sunglasses
will have a sticker on the lens or on the tag. Also, sun damage to the eyes is cumulative over a
person’s lifetime. So, it is a good idea to teach our children while they are young by getting into the
habit of putting sunglasses on them. (2023, June 15). Do sunglasses really protect your eyes?
health.clevelandclinic.org/do-sunglasses-protect-your-eyes
Protect your lips! Unfortunately, cancer can occur on the lips! Lip cancer is caused by abnormal
cells that grow out of control. Frequent sunburn of the lips could potentially be a risk for lip cancer.
Lip cancer is the most common oral cancer and approximately 40,000 cases are diagnosed a year.
Cleveland Clinic Education. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21933-lip-cancer. There are
many different types of lip balms available on the market. Some may be labeled as sun protectant,
sunscreen, or broad spectrum, but it’s important to look for the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating
on the label. SPF 15-30 are commonly found in lip balms. Just like sunscreen for your skin, it’s best
to reapply lip balm often for the best protection.
Protect your skin! The importance of skin protection from the damaging sun’s ultraviolet rays is not
new. And honestly, many women say they feel better/look better with a tan! However, skin cancer
is the most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. About 1 in 5 people develop skin cancer at some
point in their life.
Cleveland Clinic Education. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15818-
skin-cancer. The good news is, if caught early, most skin cancer is treatable. Avoiding sunburn is
the best way to protect yourself.
-Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Broad-
spectrum sunscreens protect against both UV-B and UV-A rays. Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes
before you go outside. Wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days and during winter months.
-Wear hats with wide brims to protect your face and ears.
-Wear clothing that protects your skin and look for clothing with UV protection.
-Avoid the sun between 10 am and 4 pm
-Check your skin regularly for any changes in size, shape or color of skin growths or new abnormal-
looking spots. Schedule a full body skin exam with your dermatologist prophylactically OR if
anything abnormal is seen.
Cleveland Clinic Education. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15818-skin-cancer.
While enjoying the summer sun, take a few minutes to implement the above tips . Prioritizing sun
protection is a simple yet powerful way to safeguard your long-term health and well-being.