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Protecting Yourself from Harmful UV Light

July 1, 2023

Orange and red umbrella underneath a blue sky with clouds.

CINCINNATI, OH – Outdoor activities are part of summer. Whether it is gardening, hiking, or going to a swimming pool, people tend to be exposed to the sun for longer periods of time and, therefore, increase their risk for skin cancer.

“Skin cancer is probably not the first thing on people’s minds while enjoying the outdoors,” said Grant Mussman, M.D., MHSA, Cincinnati Health Department Commissioner. “In fact, there are many health and wellness benefits from spending time outdoors, including mental health and stress reduction. Sun exposure also helps with production of vitamin D, which plays a critical role in people’s health. However, excessive sun exposure can be deadly. By taking some commonsense precautions, people can enjoy the outdoors safely.”

“Anyone can get skin cancer. It's more common among people with a light (fair) skin tone, but skin cancer can affect anyone. Skin cancer can affect both men and women. Even teenagers and, rarely, younger children can develop skin cancer,” according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). “Sunlight causes damage through ultraviolet, or UV rays, (they make up just one part of sunlight). Two parts of UV, UVA and UVB, can both cause damage to skin. Also, the sun isn't the only cause of skin cancer. There are other causes. That's why skin cancer may be found in places on the body never exposed to the sun.”

“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “The most preventable cause of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, either from the sun or from artificial sources like tanning beds.”

The most common types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) are often cured. Melanoma, the third most common type of skin cancer, causes the most deaths. As per the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), “Ohio’s melanoma mortality rate was nearly 14% higher than the U.S. rate in 2015-2019.” And “… 83% of melanomas were diagnosed at an early (in situ or local) stage and about 8% were diagnosed at a late (regional or distant) stage.”

“The five-year relative survival for Ohioans with melanoma is 94%. For local-stage melanoma, five-year survival is nearly 100%, whereas survival at the distant stage is 31%,” according to data from ODH.

Early detection is critical.
Still according to ODH, “Recognition of changes in skin growths or the appearances of new growths is the best way to find skin cancer early. … A simple ABCDE rule outlines the warning signs of the most common type of melanoma:

  • A is for Asymmetry – one half does not match the other half.
  • B is for Border – borders are ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular.
  • C is for Color – uneven color and multiple colors, including black, tan, brown, red, pink, blue, and white.
  • D is for Diameter – change in the size of the mole and/or mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser (1/4 inch or 6 millimeters).
  • E is for Evolving – changes in size, shape, or color.”

Prevention is key.

  • Exposure to UV light causes most cases of skin cancer, so people are encouraged to:
  • Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, a wide-brimmed hat, etc.
  • Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. (Sunscreen needs to be waterproof or reapplied after swimming.)
  • Seek shade, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Avoid indoor tanning booths and sun lamps.

Although people are more likely to be exposed to UV light during the summer months, UV light can be dangerous anytime of the year. For example, those who enjoy skiing or other winter outdoors activities should use sunscreen on the exposed body parts. Water, sand, and snow reflect sun rays, therefore, exposing people to potential harmful UV light. In addition, UV light exposure happens even during cloudy days. For more information about skin cancer, visit NCI, CDC, and ODH.

Sunburn is another danger from extensive exposure to UV light. “Sunburn is red, painful, damaged skin from being out in the sun for too long,” according to Cleveland Clinic. “Multiple sunburns can lead to premature skin aging and skin cancer.” For more information about types and symptoms of sunburn, visit the Cleveland Clinic website.