Be Sun-Smart

Bonita Drones, R.N., dermatology nurse specialist at the Houston VA Medical Center, offers these tips to prevent skin cancer:

Use sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) when exposed to sunlight; wear protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats; schedule outdoor activities whenever possible before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.; and when engaged in outdoor activities that induce heavy perspiration or include swimming, reapply sunscreen every two hours.

Dr. Ted Rosen, the Houston VA's chief of dermatology, adds, "Individuals should assess their risk. Fair-complected, blue-eyed people who never tan and always burn; anyone who has had two or more blistering sunburns; and those who have close relatives with skin cancer are at highest risk. Semi-annual skin examination may be best for those at high risk, where annual examinations are sufficient for those at lower risk. Always report to a physician any mole that changes, bleeds or develops symptoms such as itching."

- From the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/06_15_99-sun.html