Welcome Shades of Summer!

The season has finally arrived for sandals and snow cones, bathing suits and beaches, but with it comes the danger of basking in the sun's rays. Tanning beds have been on popular demand for some time now, providing men and women with warm, glowing color year round but at what cost? Skin cancer has also been on the rise among young girls who frequent tanning salons and melanoma is the worst possible kind, which just happens to be the leading cause of death from skin disease.

Risks include but are not limited to the following:

• Living in sunny climates/high altitudes
• Long-term exposure to high levels of strong sunlight
  
• One or more blistering sunburns during childhood
• Use of tanning devices

The American Cancer Society recommends for people ages 20-40, professional skin examinations every 3 years. For those over 40 years of age, recommendations for an exam rise to every year. Self exams are encouraged in detection and self help in prevention lies below:

• UV rays are the strongest in midday and can be harmful in as short a time as 15 minutes. Play it safe and avoid exposure from 10am to 3pm.
• There's shade and there's shades. Hats with wide brims provide more effective coverage and sunglasses with UV A&B protection can help you avoid cataracts in the future.
• Stay away from tanning beds. I think the point has been made.
• Sunscreen should have an SPF of 15 or higher and be reapplied every 2 hours if outside.

Here's an interesting fact: As few as five sunburns will increase one's risk for skin cancer.
How many have you had?