Protecting Your Skin: Don’t Let Too Much Sun Spoil Your Fun
By Dr. Jack Smith, TRICARE Management Activity

Cold weather, short days and big coats are a thing of the past. Summer is here and time to enjoy warm weather, long sun-filled days and light, airy clothes.

But nothing can ruin summer fun quite like a sunburn. Not only is sunburn a painful condition, the skin damage is often permanent and can have serious long-term health effects.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), significant problems are experienced by millions of sunburned people each year. TRICARE wants you to be informed of potential risks and ways to protect yourself and family members when outside enjoying the summer days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you protect your skin from sun exposure everyday, not just on sunny days. Exposed skin should be protected from excessive sun exposure to the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. Many are unaware that UV rays can cause harm on cloudy and hazy days as well as bright and sunny days.

We have all observed that sunburn can occur in a very short time in light-skinned individuals with midday sun exposure. And although a dark-skinned person may be less sensitive, sun exposure can burn and damage dark skin, too.

Whether light or dark-skinned, a sunburn can be very harmful. The skin becomes red, painful and tender to touch. Blisters may develop hours, to days later. The skin may also peel on sunburned areas after several days. For a serious sunburn, you may need to seek medical attention.

One serious long-term health problem is the heightened risk of developing skin cancer. The NIH reports that skin cancer usually appears in adulthood, but is caused by sun exposure and sunburns that began as early as childhood. Unprotected sun exposure can also cause premature aging of the skin.

So don’t let too much sun exposure spoil your summer fun. To prevent damage, the CDC recommends these measures for sun protection:

• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher –look for both UV-A and UV-B protection. Apply it generously, and remember that many brands require periodic reapplication if you’re sweating or swimming.

• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.

• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears and neck.

• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays as possible.

• Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours.

To help beneficiaries catch potential problems early, TRICARE covers skin cancer screening exams for individuals with a family or personal history of skin cancer, increased occupational or recreational exposure to sunlight or clinical evidence of precursor lesions.

Learn more about sunburn and sun safety at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/...guide.asp.