Flip-Flops and Baseball Caps Can Raise Your Skin Cancer Risk
Posted on Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
There’s nothing like running errands in flip-flops, a baseball cap and your favorite sweat pants–de-glamorized–but wearing these items can raise your skin cancer risk.
“Most skin cancers occur on the parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun,” said Dr. Anthony Peterson, assistant professor of medicine, dermatology, Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, ILL, and also director of its dermatology division. “The problem with flip-flops and baseball caps is that they leave the tips of the ears and the tops of the feet dangerously exposed to sun damage. The potential for skin cancers in those areas are real, especially on the tips of the ears.”
Peterson points out that back in the day, people wore wide-rimmed hats and shoes that covered their entire heads and feet. And even if people use sunscreen today, many people overlook putting sunscreen on their ears and the tops of their feet.
Skin cancer accounts for almost half of all cancer occurrences in the United States according to the American Cancer Society.
People can prevent most types of skin cancer from avoiding ultraviolet rays. Here are some tips to help protect against skin cancer:
* Use sunscreen daily, with at least an SPF of 15.
* Wear protective clothing outdoors.
* Avoid the sun during midday hours, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
* Avoid sunbathing in tanning salons because ultraviolet rays from artificial sources are just as damaging to the skin.
If you must wear flip-flops, make sure to apply sunscreen onto your feet.
