I remember everything about the moment my parents sat me down and told me I had cancer.
I was just 15.
A mole that had been recently removed from my face was in fact a malignant melanoma, which is the most aggressive and potentially life-threatening of the most common types of skin cancer. I was one of the lucky ones; it was caught early before spreading to other organs.
Now as a 31-year-old mother of a two-year-old son, teaching him to love and protect his skin is a top priority of mine.
The importance of good skin care from an early age is imperative – one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chance of developing melanoma later in life. The incidence of melanoma is on the rise – especially among people in their teens and 20s – and research shows that the increase may be partly related to ultraviolet (UV) sun exposure during childhood.
In an effort to curb this alarming trend, here are six simple sun safety tips!
1. Be a good example of sun safety.
This is SO important! Show your kids that you prioritize sun safety and take care of your skin. Be the example.
2. Wear sunscreen every day.
It starts with applying sunscreen to yourself and your kids every single day – even when it is cloudy or overcast.
3. Be sunscreen savvy.
Here’s what you need to know to make you sunscreen savvy:
- Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF or higher. Broad spectrum means it’s protecting against both types of ultraviolet radiation in the sun’s rays – UVA and UVB.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and 1-2 hours thereafter.
- Make sure to use the right amount. A good rule of thumb is to use a golf-ball sized dollop to cover a child from head to toe.
4. Limit Sun Exposure
Try to limit sun exposure, especially between the hours of 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. when the sun is the strongest. Babies under the age of 6 months should have very limited sun exposure. Cover their skin with light clothing and find lots of shade. All children over the age of 6 months should wear sunscreen outside.
5. Don’t forget to protect those eyes!
Sunlight reflects off snow, sand or water and further increases exposure to UV radiation and increases your risk of developing eye problems. Wear sunglasses that offer 99-100% UV protection and make sure your kids’ sunglasses offer the same protection.
6. Say NO to tanning beds.
Studies suggest that your risk of melanoma increases by 75% if you start using artificial tanning before you are 30 years old. There are so many safe alternatives now to get a healthy glow without the dangerous rays!
6. Know the ABCs of Skin Cancer
I can honestly say I’m alive today because my mom knew the signs of skin cancer. She was the one who was diligent about me seeing a dermatologist and getting my mole removed, despite my protests.
Know the ABCs of skin cancer:
Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.
Border irregularity: The edges of the mole are irregular, ragged, blurred, or notched.
Color: The color over the mole is not the same all over. There may be shades of tan, brown, or black.
Diameter: The mole is larger than about ¼ inch – about the size of a pencil eraser; although, doctors are now finding more melanomas that are smaller.
Cincinnati Moms Blog is happy to support Melanoma Know More in honor of Melanoma Awareness Month. Melanoma Know More strives to reduce the impact of melanoma through awareness, education, support of medical research, and assistance to persons affected by melanoma. It is easy to shrug off responsible skin care, but a little effort and awareness, goes a long way in the world of prevention of Melanoma, especially in our role are parents to our precious children. In addition to the basic tips our guest blogger writes about above, routine screenings by a dermatologist are also important. Melanoma Know More makes this easy, with FREE monthly screenings with some amazing Cincinnati area dermatologists. The appointments are easy to set up and take very little time. There is even one this coming weekend!
Cincinnati Moms Blog offers a special thank you to today’s guest blogger, Britt Nielsen
Britt’s Bio: Britt is a full time stay-at-home mom who blogs about her experiences at My Life and Kids. She became involved with Melanoma Know More (MKM) in 2012 to help the organization spread awareness about melanoma and the importance of sun safety.
