Continue to Be Sun-Smart This Summer: Tanned and Burned Skin Signifies Damaged Skin

Life cannot exist without the sun, but like anything, we need to enjoy it in moderation. The dangers of being in the sun for too long can have lasting, life-threatening effects on our skin. Bronzed and sunburned skin signifies damaged skin and it can result in serious consequences.

While summer is peak-season for burns, protecting your skin should be a year-long priority. Risks of sunburn from exposing your skin to UV light from the sun include:

· Increased risk of skin cancer and melanoma – more than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by exposure to UV light from the sun and tanning beds

· Pre-cancerous and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma) skin lesions - due to decreases in the skin’s immune function

· DNA damage to the skin

· Acceleration of skin aging in the form of wrinkles, age spots or pigment discoloration

· Developing freckles or rashes

· Pain to the individual

While excessive skin damage is often irreversible and potentially life-threatening, there are several measures you could take to protect yourself and prevent skin damage:

· Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen to your entire face and body approximately 30 minutes prior to going outside, so that it can be absorbed by the skin and less likely to absorb when you perspire, and reapply every few hours and after swimming or strenuous exercise. Don’t forget to also apply a lip balm with an SPF.

· Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and minimize your time outdoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the most powerful.

· Seek shade and cover up with clothing.

· Sport a broad-brimmed hat and UV blocking sunglasses.

· Perform self-skin exams to evaluate your existing moles and lesions, looking for suspicious changes, and to monitor for new lesions. Follow the ABCDE rule to help you identify that you may need to see your physician.

· The most important part of your skincare regimen is that you enroll in a screening program that conducts full skin exams and detects melanoma at the earliest possible stages. MoleSafe’s proprietary program combines advanced melanoma screening, detailed diagnostic reports and annual follow-up, which makes its process of early detection superior to any others. Patients who enroll in MoleSafe’s program will receive peace of mind knowing that their skin is healthy, because MoleSafe’s world-wide experts are among the most established and trusted physicians in the field. MoleSafe’s screening program monitors your moles, freckles and lesions for suspicious changes and checks for new growths that could be life-threatening.

If left unnoticed or untreated, melanoma can develop and spread to other parts of the body and may not be curable. Don’t leave anything to chance. Make smart choices when exposing your skin to the sun and be proactive in your skin health by enrolling in MoleSafe’s screening and surveillance program.

For more information, visit www.molesafe.com/Millburn or call 1-877-326-6518. If you live, work or own a business in Millburn, you will receive 20 percent off your initial screening. Mention the “Millburn Appreciation Program” to receive 20 percent off your first visit.