SunGuard Man says. Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland

Transcription

1 SUNGUARD YOUR SKIN An Educational Kit for Middle School Students SunGuard Man says PLAY IT SAFE IN THE SUN.... TM USE PROTECTION! Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland

2 The Sun's Rays The Dangers of Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) There are many types of rays which come from the sun: heat rays, visible light and invisible ultraviolet (UV) light. Two kinds of UV light reach the earth's surface: UVA and UVB. The UVA rays are longer and penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays. They cause premature aging of the skin by causing the skin to lose its elasticity and form wrinkles. These are the primary type of rays emitted by tanning beds. The shorter UVB rays contribute to percent of sunburn. A sunburn injures the skin and is directly related to skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation is more intense in the middle of the day, during the summer, in regions of the earth closer to the equator, and at higher elevations. Overexposure to UVR from the sun causes Sunburn Skin Cancer Premature aging (skin wrinkling) Cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) Immune system depression DNA damage Dilated blood vessels The UV Index is a useful tool which provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun's harmful rays. This can be found in the weather section of newspapers and is often heard on television weather reports. Your Skin and the Sun The skin has two layers: the epidermisand dermis. The epidermis is the thin outside level of skin. It has several layers of cells. New cells are constantly being formed and pushed up to the surface. This part of the skin protects the body from the sun and infection. The dermis is a thick layer of skin under the epidermis. This layer gives the skin its strength and elasticity and helps insulate the body from cold and heat. Skin color depends upon the activity level of melanin-producing cells in the epidermis, called melanocytes. Everyone has the same number of these melanocytes, but people who have more active melanocytes have darker skin. People who have more active melanocytes in some parts of their skin develop freckles when exposed to sunlight. The amount of melanin in the skin determines how much sun the skin can tolerate without being damaged. People with light skin need to be more careful about sun exposure because they have less melanin and can therefore burn more easily. 1 SunGuard Your Skin Blood vessel Hair follicle Dermis Sweat gland Epidermis

3 Your Skin and Cancer Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. About one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. On average, one American dies from skin cancer every hour. Most skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. Most people do not get skin cancer when they are young but each time they are out in the sun without protection they increase their chance of getting skin cancer later in life. Getting sunburned adds to the risk of getting malignant melanoma, the most dangerous and deadly kind of skin cancer. The three most common types of skin cancer are: Basal cell carcinoma (80% of all skin cancers) Squamous cell carcinoma (16% of all skin cancers) Malignant melanoma (4% of all skin cancers) Skin cancer can be cured if it is recognized early and treated promptly. Most spots or moles on the skin are normal but beware of the following warning signs, called the ABCDs of Melanoma: Asymmetry one half unlike the other half Border irregular poorly defined border Color varied from one area to another Diameter larger than 6mm (diameter of a pencil eraser) Who Is at Risk? The risk factors* for skin cancer are Fair Skin Light colored hair Tendency to burn rather than tan Have many moles (especially over l00) Blue, green or hazel eyes Freckles History of severe sunburns Personal or family history of skin cancer * A risk factor is something that put you at greater risk for developing a disease. This does not mean that someone who doesn't have a risk factor is immune. Protective Measures SunGuard Your Skin You can avoid skin cancer if you adopt the following habits Avoid the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when its rays are strongest. Cover up with a hat with a broad (4-inch) brim, long-sleeved, tightly woven clothing, and UV protective sunglasses. Stay away from reflective surfaces, such as snow, water, sand and concrete. Use a broad-spectrum suncreen, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply suncreen every two hours, especially if you're swimming or sweating. Seek the shade of buildings, trees, and awnings when you must be in the midday sun. Avoid tanning beds they cause skin wrinkling and skin cancer MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland. All rights reserved. 2

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5 SunGuard Man Use the information on pages 1 and 2 in this kit OR visit the web site at to find the answers to the following questions. Submit your answers online to be eligible to win a prize! 1. The type ultraviolet radiation that causes most sunburn is. 2. During which season of the year is ultraviolet radiation strongest?. 3. Ultraviolet radiation is most intense in areas of the world closest to the. 4. The cells in the epidermis of the skin which determine skin color are called the. 5. The most dangerous type of skin cancer is. 6. The most common type of skin cancer is. 7. skinned people are at higher risk of developing skin cancer. 8. Another risk factor for skin cancer is a history of severe. 9. If you must be outside in the midday sun, cover up with clothing and use a with an SPF of at least One way to protect yourself against the sun s harmful rays is to seek the of buildings, trees and awnings. 4

6 SUNGUARD RESOLUTIONS Ways I Can Improve My Sun Safety When the sun is shining: What I Do Now What I Should Do What I Will Do

7 SUNGUARD YOUR SKIN WORD SEARCH Find the following skin cancer related terms in the word search below. self-examinations moles color prevention sunburn benign malignant ultraviolet damage melanoma skin diameter sunscreen diagnosis asymmetry border cancer SPF protection hats long sleeves risk The words can be found horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forward or backward. A G LR S E E H C O LO R TW A I C K S I R Z B M F V I O E T R C JB N C S X U M P D K S T B I H A N R F R LD - P JN O I T N E V E R P A U U LC H D V T D O S G M V S C P C N M Y S E A LG B E N I G N I J M S E H N A R H K U L T R A V I O L E T N B I K C O G R D E T V L U Y N P R O T E C T I O N JM U D A F E S C E R T B I D S E K D E E A LO O M E T S R A G G O A T B L T A G JU G I LO N E A Y P R O L E N M A P LM E C S K I N N Y A H - C X N A G H Y E D U C M W A Y E C H O L S A I M S T E F R E L R B E T R S A I B T R G H L C E V N E O P R S K T T D R E A L P D LO S B T P K L E A N T H A M P J E E S BC T O F F R E A T S U N S C R E E N A R T M L C Y U K B G O P A P L E S U C E T R E R O O LM R C T LH O O E L A LO N G - S L E E V E S K O Y G R A C H P E R Y S M E L A N O M A C H I L K N S - DW C E A L I D O T V E R I B LU D R E S D I A G N O S I S N OW E R A W A T Y S N O I T A N I M A X E - F L E S D O R X H 6

8 SUNGUARDMAN SAYS: PLAY IT SAFE IN THE SUN USE PROTECTION MEASURES TO PREVENT SKIN CANCER Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cover up with protective clothing Wear a wide brimmed hat Use UVA protective sunglasses Seek shade Avoid reflective surfaces Don t use tanning salons or sun lamps Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher Apply ½ hour before sun exposure Reapply every two hours