Shape Magazine
Skin Cancer
• Apply sunscreen right. First make sure you use enough--one ounce (a shot glass full) for your entire body. Slather it on 30 minutes before you hit the sun. Don't forget to cover the spots people often miss: lips, hands, ears, and nose. Reapply every two hours--for a day at the beach you should use half an 8-ounce bottle just on yourself--but towel off first; water dilutes SPF.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants of tightly woven fabrics and dark colors. A dark-blue cotton T-shirt, for example, has a UPF of 10, while a white one ranks a 7. Keep in mind that if clothes get wet, protection drops by half. Choose a hat with a wide brim-- one that is at least 2- to 3-inches all around--and sunglasses that absorb UV. You may also want to try UPF clothing. It's treated with a special coating to help absorb both UVA and UVB rays. As with SPF, the higher the UPF (it ranges from 15 to 50+), the more it protects.
• Opt for a pair of sunglasses that are clearly labeled to block at least 99 percent of UV rays; not all do. Wider lenses will best protect the delicate skin around your eyes, not to mention your eyes themselves (UV exposure may contribute to cataracts and vision loss later in life).
• Stay away from sunlamps and tanning booths.
• Get moving. Researchers at Rutgers University showed that active mice develop fewer skin cancers than sedentary ones, and experts believe the same applies to humans. Exercise strengthens the immune system, possibly helping the body defend itself better against cancers.
Adapted in part from the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov)
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