When outdoors for work or play, it’s important to protect yourself and loved ones from harmful rays which can increase your risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
Ashley Svaty, Family and Consumer Sciences specialist with K-State Western Kansas Research and Extension Center in Hays and one of the authors of “Protect Your Skin from the Sun”, notes that “One in five Americans will develop skin cancer, which is the world’s most common cancer, and farmers, ranchers, and outdoor workers are exposed to 2-3 times more radiation than indoor workers.” Nearly 20 Americans die every day from melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Svaty encourages everyone to take daily precautions to decrease their risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Performing a monthly skin self-examination and visiting a dermatologist or physician annually for a skin cancer exam allows you to catch potentially dangerous conditions when they are still treatable.
Outdoor Workers
Due to the increased UV exposure, Svaty encourages those who work outdoors to take breaks in the shade when available, wear a wide-brimmed hat and UV sunglasses and keep in a convenient place such as in your truck or tractor. Wear a lightweight, comfortable dark colored long sleeve shirt for extra protection. Although tempting for convenience, it is not recommended to keep sunscreen in a hot location such as a vehicle or implement. This causes the preservatives in sunscreen to break down, allowing bacteria and fungi to grow faster. Instead, apply a generous amount to your exposed skin before going outside and keep the sunscreen in a cool place to reapply at least every two hours. You may find that it’s more convenient to apply spray sunscreen instead of lotions; just be sure to thoroughly rub it in and spray the sunscreen onto your body out of the wind.
Selecting Sun Safe Clothing and Accessories
UPF clothing helps shield your skin from the sun, but not all colors and fabrics provide the same protection. Svaty offers the following tips when shopping for UV protective apparel.
- Color: Choose dark or bright colors over lighter shades. Dark or bright colored clothing absorbs UV rays instead of penetrating the skin.
- Construction: Choose densely woven clothing such as denim, wool, or synthetic fibers.
- Fit: Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing is preferred over tight clothing.
- UPF: Look for an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). This number measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin.
- Coverage: To better protect your skin, choose clothing that protects the most surface area such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Sunscreen
It’s important to make applying sunscreen a daily habit. While choosing a sunscreen may seem overwhelming, look for a waterproof, broad spectrum 30SPF. When applying, use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas and apply 15 minutes before going outdoors to allow your skin to absorb the sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours, more often if sweating or swimming. Svaty also cautions to look at the expiration date and not use expired sunscreen.
Early Detection
For those who work in the sun daily, it’s especially important for you to perform regular skin cancer checks to look for anything new or unusual. This allows you to catch potentially dangerous conditions when they are still treatable. When performing a full-body monthly self-exam, face the mirror and check your face, ears, neck, chest, and belly. Check your underarms, both sides of your arms, tops and palms of hands, in between fingers, and under your fingernails. Next, sit down and check your thighs, shins, tops of feet, in between toes, and under your toenails. Utilize a hand mirror to look at the bottoms of your feet, calves, and backs of thighs. Continue to your lower and upper back, buttocks and genital area, back of neck and ears. Wrap up your monthly self-exam by using a comb to part your hair to check your scalp.
The American Cancer Society recommends specifically looking for:
- New, growing, or changing growth, spot or bump on the skin
- A sore that bleeds and/or doesn’t heal after several weeks
- Rough or scaly red patches which may crust or bleed
- Wart-like growths
- A mole (or other spot on the skin) that’s new or changing in size, shape, or color
- A mole with an odd shape, irregular borders, or areas of different colors.
If you notice any new, growing or changing growths on your body, or anything else suspicious, schedule a visit to your doctor or dermatologist.
For more information about sun protection, view the Protect Your Skin from the Sun publication found in the K-State Research and Extension bookstore. You can reach Ashley Svaty via email at asvaty@ksu.edu .