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Family Medical Specialties
516 W. 14th Avenue
Holdrege, NE 68949
Hours:
8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to Noon, Saturday
Lab opens 7:30 a.m. weekdays and Saturday
Closed holidays
308-995-4431
Health Tips
Sun Safety
Excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, as well as UV rays from artificial sources, such as tanning beds, causes most known skin cancers. The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented. Before we spend time in the sun, you can learn how to protect your skin.
What are the effects of UV radiation?
Short-term: sunburn and tanning.
Long-term: wrinkles, dark patches, prematurely aged skin, loss of skin elasticity, skin changes, and skin cancers. Other effects include increased risk for cataracts and other eye problems.
How can I protect my skin from UV rays?
- Limit sun exposure between 10AM and 4PM. If you have to spend time outside during these hours, protect your skin. Note that the sun’s rays can pass through water. Snow and sand reflect sunlight, increasing the UV radiation exposure to your skin.
- Cover your skin. Preferably, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or long skirts made of tightly woven, lightweight, and comfortable fabrics. Dark color clothing provides more protection than light colored.
- Sport a hat. Wear a hat that has a 2 to 3 inch brim all around it to protect skin areas often exposed to the sun. Note that a baseball cap does not protect the back of the neck or the ears, where skin cancers commonly develop.
- Apply sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply the sunscreen properly, paying especial attention to face, ears, hands, and arms. Apply the sunscreen generously to dry skin 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure to let the chemicals have time to absorb into your skin. Use lip balm with sunscreen. Reapply every few hours or more often if you are swimming or heavily sweating.
- Wear sunglasses that protect against UV rays. Look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation or have UV absorption up to 400 nm.
- Avoid tanning beds and/or lamps. Tanning beds can be harmful because they release UV rays.
What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?
The most important warning sign for skin cancer is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin (known as the ugly duckling sign). If you have any of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor.
The ABCD rule is guide to the usual signs of skin cancer. Be on the lookout and tell your doctor about any spots that match the following description:
- A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
- B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
- C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
- D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch -- the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
Some skin cancers do not fit the rules described above, so it is important to tell your doctor about any changes in skin lesions, new skin lesions, or growths that look different from the rest of your moles.
What if I find something suspicious?
Be sure to show your doctor any area that concerns you. A qualified doctor should be able to identify any suspicious areas you may have.
Where can you go for help?
Experts
Family Medical Specialties, (308) 995-4431. Call to schedule an appointment with a health care professional to talk about any skin concerns.
Resources
Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.
American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org
Additional information included in this article adapted from Washington University in St. Louis Health Services.