Bronzed today, wrinkled tomorrow -- the effects of tanning are anything but pretty. Like sunburns, tans are a sign of injured skin and can cause skin cancer and premature aging (think wrinkles earlier in life). To preserve your health, and your beauty, forego sunbathing and protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.
Sun-protection messages abound each year but according to Dr. Jason Rivers, a professor of dermatology at the University of British Columbia, some of us still aren't listening. "There's a disconnection between knowledge and behaviour," he says. According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, over 50 per cent of Canadians do not use any sun protection.
A rise in skin cancer rates in Canada may also indicate that we're just not heeding safety recommendations. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 4,200 new cases of malignant melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer) will be diagnosed in 2004, up from 3,900 in 2003.
You can prevent skin cancer and premature aging by always protecting skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB). And people with red hair, freckles, moles and fair skin that burns easily need to be especially diligent with protection because they are at a greater risk for skin cancer and other sun damage.
Sunscreen smarts
Sunscreen may be the most important component of sun safety. Its sun protection factor (SPF) helps block or screen harmful UV rays. Yet, it's often misused. Rivers says people mistakenly only put it on once, don't regularly apply before going outside and just use a third to a half of what's needed. "People think that by using it, they'll prevent all the damage. Sunscreen has to be used properly for it to have the effect that is stated on the bottle," he says.
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