Environmental Factors

7th Grade2015-2016

Dear 16 year old me!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMez

M

Meredith Stapleton

What is MelanomaCancerAffects the skin areas that give color to the skin

and hairCan be cured, but can be lethal

“In a Culture of Sunbathers, Tips for Shielding the Sun”

By Jane E. Brody

Follow up from reading The author believes that getting a tan is healthy?

True or False The body tries to protect itself from the sun?

True or False UV rays both tan and damage my skin

True or False Just one blistering sunburn early in life can greatly increase

the risk of developing potentially fatal melanoma? True or False

The darker the skin, the more prone you are to developing skin cancer? True or False

Sunscreen should be applied ____ minutes before exposure The best way to avoid sun damage is to ________

Sun Safety “I cant get skin cancer because my routine (school,

riding in a bus or car, indoor hobbies and vacations) doesn’t include any outdoor activitiesTrue or False

FALSE Doctors say that even brief sun exposure all year round can

add to up to significant damage for people, especially with fair skin.

The sun’s UV rays do pass through car windows, so driving or riding in car during peak hours 10am-4pm, to lunch on the weekends, bathes your hands and arms in UV damage

Cumulative, everyday exposures are linked to squamous cell cancer, not as dangerous, but this cancer has increased 20% of cancer deaths

Sun Safety “My father should use sunscreen at

football games, even though he only goes (and gets burned!) once or twice a yearTrue or False

TRUEMany believe it is ok to get a sunburn every now

and thenStudies show occasional exposure to strong

sunlight seems to increase the risk of the most serious types of skin cancer AKA MELANOMA

Sun Safety “If I’m wearing sunscreen, I can stay in the

sun as long as I want”True or False

FALSE It’s just not smart to broil in the sun for hoursSunscreen cant provide total protection from UV raysAmerican Cancer Society says

Seek shelter from sunLimit time in the sun at middayCover up with shirt, wear wide brimmed hat and

sunglassesSunscreen over 15 SPF

Sun Safety “A sunscreen labeled 30 SPF blocks twice

as much UV radiation as one labeled SPF 15”True or FalseFalse SPF: Sun Protection Factor SPF tells you how LONG a product will protect your skin if

you apply the correct amount of the product So SPF 15, the fair skinned person will begin to burn in

how long?15x15=225225 minutes or 3 hours and 45 minutes

You should reapply sunscreen approximately every 2 hours You should use a sunscreen that is UVB and UVA protection

Sun Safety IQ“ It’s safe for children to stay in the pool

all day if they slip on a t-shirt after a couple of hours and reapply sunscreen to their faces, arms and legs”True or FalseFALSEUV rays penetrate a white cotton shirt easily, and

easier when wetShirt is only SPF 5 when dry, and SPF 4 when wetWell below the recommended SPF 15Move into shade for a period of the dayBabies younger than 6 months, shade, sun

designed clothes and hats are best

Sun Safety IQ“ How often do you need to reapply water-

resistant sunscreen?”Every 2 hours or sooner if you are fair skinned,

after sweating or swimming and after you towel dryCheck the label to ensure you don’t need to reapply

more oftenMake sure the label says it is water resistant, there is

no such thing as waterproof sunscreen!Water resistant is meant for swimming or sweating

for no more than 40 minutesRemember that sunscreen comes off when you towel

dry

Sun Safety IQ“ Getting a “base tan” at an indoor

tanning salon is a good way to prevent sunburn when I go to the beach later this summer”True or False

FALSE Experts do say that does very little to protect against a

sunburn “Base Tans” may actually increase the chance of you getting

a burn, because you believe you can stay out longerTans injure the skin in general

UV damages deeper layers of the skin, and it accumulates from every tan/burn you have/get

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SAFE TAN!!!!!!

Sun Safety IQ“What are the two most common (and

painful) sunscreen mistakes?”USING TOO LITTLE AND WAITING TOO LONG

TO REAPPLYStudies show that most people who use sunscreen,

come home burned anyway due to the 2 simple mistakes

Adults should use 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover their arms, legs, face, hands, neck and ears.

Too thin of layers cuts the protection value in HALFREAPPLY AT LEAST EVERY 2 HOURS!

Sun Safety IQ“Approximately what SPF is a white T-

shirt?”4 IF WET, AND 5 IF DRY

What else should we do?Better clothing choices such as darker colors,

tighter weaves and specially treated garments are better

Sun Safety IQJust one blistering/bad sunburn early in life

can greatly increase the risk of developing potentially fatal melanoma?True or False

TRUE!

Sun Safety IQSunscreen should be applied ____ minutes

before exposure?30

When you walk outside after 30 minutes your body has had time to absorb the sunscreen to provide full effects

Sun Safety IQ“Now putting it all together. You applied

sunscreen at 12:00 noon, for an afternoon of reading beside the pool. At 2:00pm what do we need to do to BEST protect our skin?”MOVE TO THE SHADEWe can reapply sunscreen, and we can put clothes

on but it is best if we move out of the sun and protect the biggest organ in the body…SKIN

ABCDE of MelanomaA is for Asymmetry

B is for BorderC is for Color

D is for DiameterE is for Evolving

How to check yourselfAre the moles Asymmetric?

One half of the mole or birthmark should match the other

How to check yourselfB is for Border

The edges should not be irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred

How to check yourselfC is for color

The color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of black or brown, and sometimes even have red, white or blue spots

How to check yourselfD is for Diameter

The are is larger than 6 milimeters (the size of a pencil eraser) or has increased in size

How to check yourselfE is for evolving

Changes in size, shape, color, elevation or another trait (such as itching, or bleeding)

Most important part

How to check yourselfStand in front of a full length mirror Use a well lit roomStart at your head and work your way down to

the bottom of your feetBegin by using a brush or hairdryer to part your

hair into sections so that you can check your scalp

Move to your face and neck but don’t forget your ears, nostrils and lips

How to check yourselfBe sure to check both the top and underneath your

arms, do not forget your fingernailsAs you move down your body don’t forget to check

places where only you can see. Melanoma can be found in places that are not exposed to sun light

Ask a family member or friend to check your scalp and back

The best way to monitor changes on your sin is by taking pictures every few months and comparing them to identify changes.

REACT QUICKLY if you see changes