We are quickly approaching the sun season and that means thinking about - but more importantly preventing the BURN. Why is this so important? Over 1.3 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. If you only consider melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, and boil that down to something a little more personal, that's 1 in every 75 people. This is up tremendously from 1930 when the odds were 1 in every 1500 people that were diagnosed with melanoma. However, skin cancer is largely preventable and here are some things we can do to protect our kids and ourselves.

Limit your time in the sun. It's important to be conscious of when the sun is most intense. This occurs between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM. So scheduling activities before and after those hours is best. No watch? A rule of thumb is to check your shadow. If you're your shadow is shorter than you are, it's time to get out of the sun. Also be aware of "hidden" sources of damaging rays like cloudy days, snow or water reflection, and other reflective surfaces. Remember to look for the shade!

Don't forget the sunscreen. This is a very important ingredient to upping your odds in prevention. But remember to use it liberally (LOTS) and often, at least every two hours. Put it on 30 minutes before you go out and get a water resistant one. But remember that swimming, toweling off, and sweating mean you must reapply your sunscreen. Get an SPF- Sun Protection Factor- of 15 or higher and one that blocks both UVB and UVA rays. And wear it with clothing.

Shades, hats, and cover-ups. Did you know that clothes and swim suits come with a UPF - UV Protective Fabric - number? You're looking for one that is 15 to 50+ range. You want tightly woven and darker colored fabrics, because they block or absorb UV rays better. Also heavier fabrics tend to block UV rays as well and of course long sleeves, high collars, and long pants are best. Last but not least in our wardrobe are hats and glasses. Wide brimmed hats or caps with a back flap cover better, especially those ears and oh those shades. Get the 100% UV blocking sunglasses or goggles for skiing and snow boarding. Shade is definitely in this year, all year.

Kids and the great outdoors. You are right, that is where they are at and we human beings get most of our sun exposure before the age of 20. Additionally, we dramatically increase our risks for cancer if we get severe sunburns. In fact as getting one severe sunburn before the age of 18 may double our risk of melanoma during our lifetime. Even dark skinned kids (as with adults) can get sunburned. So have your kids play it safe by: 1) limiting outdoor activities between 10AM and 4 PM, 2) babies under 6 months should spend very little time in the sun and be sure to use protective clothing, sunglasses, and hats; 3) Use that sunscreen at an SPF of at least 15 and use the same rules as an adult. Also sunscreen paraffin stick products are especially good for lips, noses, ears, backs of hands and feet because they adhere better, and 4) be sure to use clothing that is sun protective. Wet clothing, especially light colored ones can transmit light.

Last but not least. Avoid tanning beds and other artificial sources of UV radiation. But what about that healthy glow you may be saying? There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Tanning is a sign that the skin has sustained damage that will/can result in photo aging, wrinkling, and skin cancer. Tanning beds are required to be labeled by the FDA with the following warning statement:

"DANGER-Ultraviolet radiation. Avoid overexposure. As with natural sunlight, overexposure can cause eye and skin injury and allergic reactions. Repeated exposure may cause premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. WEAR PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR; FAILURE TO MAY RESULT IN SEVERE BURNS OR LONG TERM INJURY TO THE EYES. Medications or cosmetics may increase your sensitivity to the ultraviolet radiation. Consult physician before using sunlamp if you are using medications or have a history of skin problems or believe yourself especially sensitive to sunlight. If you do not tan in the sun, you are unlikely to tan from the use of this product."

Tanning beds produce UVA radiation that is of a high intensity and penetrate deeply into the skin. UV radiation form tanning booths has been shown to be linked to melanoma of the skin and eyes. So that trip to the tanning bed is not safe at all, but certainly helps to increase your risk of getting cancer.

So remember sunny skies are here and it's up to you to beat the odds and avoid the burn.

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