SUN AND HEAT RELATED PROBLEM TIPS FROM...
PATIENT FIRST Neighborhood Medical Centers

Spring turns to Summer. The days grow longer, and the sun gets hotter. Warm raysare welcomed by many –yet provide some reasons for caution. The heat feels good too, but we need to be thoughtful in avoiding its dangers.So then, what are some risks of too much sun exposure and excessive heat? Excessive sun exposure can damage the skin and lead to fine-course wrinkles, discolored areas of the skin, spider veins, and skin cancers, including melanomas.How do you prevent sun related skin damage?

Sun related skin damage can be prevented by avoiding excessive direct sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest. If being in the sun is unavoidable,sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or greater should be applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapplied every 2 hours.
How can one determine if a skin lesion is a melanoma or a non-cancerous mole? One can use the “ABCD rule” when attempting to determine if a mole is a melanoma:

A = Asymmetry – If a line is drawn through the center
of the mole, the halves would not match.
B = The Border of the mole is irregular.
C = The Color of the mole is uneven with shades of
brown, black, tan, red, white, and/or blue.
D = Change in the Diameter of the mole.
If any mole is of concern, whether it meets the above
criteria or not, you should seek the advice of your
health care provider.

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