Planning to Travel? Don鈥檛 Take a Vacation From Sun Safety
Traveling adds richness to life, but it can also add increased threat to your skin health from sun exposure. When planning your next trip, don鈥檛 forget to pack sunscreen and sun-protective clothing so you can explore your destination while safeguarding your skin.听
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 hide every day and not go outside,鈥 says Anna Pavlick, D.O., a medical oncologist and director of the Cutaneous Oncology Program at 麻豆高清 and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. 鈥淟ife is meant to be lived. We just have to live safely. I tell patients they need to apply sunscreen every day, whether it鈥檚 cloudy, overcast or snowing. The most convenient way to do that is to have a bottle of sunscreen in the bathroom. So, when you get out of the shower and have dried off, rather than putting on body lotion, apply sunscreen top to bottom.鈥听
When Sun Exposure Hits Differently听
Like many people, when you travel, you may enjoy hiking in the wilderness, strolling the beach or exploring the streets of a new city. Depending on your destination, these activities may expose you to more ultraviolet radiation from the sun than you get at home.听
Snow and sand, with their reflective qualities, increase exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. UVB is more harmful than its twin, ultraviolet A (UVA), . However, UVA still occurs at high levels during the day and plays a bigger role in premature skin aging than UVB.听
Sun Protection Is for Everyone听
If you鈥檙e a person of color, don鈥檛 assume skin cancer can鈥檛 affect you. People with richly pigmented skin can develop skin cancer, although the signs may look different than in people with less melanin in their skin. Take basal cell carcinoma, for example, the most common type of skin cancer.听
鈥淲hen basal cell carcinoma presents in populations of color, almost 50% or more of the time, it鈥檚 pigmented,鈥 says Andrew Alexis, M.D., MPH, vice chair for diversity and inclusion for the Department of Dermatology and dermatologist at the Center for Diverse Skin Complexions at 麻豆高清. 鈥淪o, instead of being pink and pearly, as it would typically occur in someone with lighter pigmented skin, in someone with more darkly pigmented skin, this same cancer would look like a brown spot that scabs easily. It might fall off and come back. This would be a signal that it鈥檚 something to get checked.鈥听
Pack (Sun) Smart听
Be sure the following sun safety items make it into your luggage:听
- A broad-spectrum sunscreen鈥攎eaning it protects against UVA and UVB鈥攚ith a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30听
- A hat with a brim at least three inches wide听
- Sunglasses with a UV rating of 400听
- Sun-protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and pants, with a UV protection factor of at least 15.听
During your trip, apply 1 fluid ounce of sunscreen鈥攖he equivalent of a full shot glass鈥攖o uncovered skin at least 15 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.听
Know Your ABCDEs听
When you return home from your trip, you鈥檒l settle back into your normal routine鈥攁nd that should include a monthly skin self-exam to check for signs of skin cancer. Use the first five letters of the alphabet to help you remember what to look for:听
- A is for asymmetry. Two halves of a mole look different from each other.听
- B is for border. The mole has irregular edges.听
- C is for color. The mole is multicolored, with areas of brown, tan, black, blue, red or white.听
- D is for diameter. If the mole is about the size of a pencil eraser, it could be cancerous.听
- E is for evolving. Changes to the mole鈥檚 color, shape or size could be signs of skin cancer.听
Need help staying on top of skin health? Find a dermatologist at 麻豆高清.听