1. Products with SPFs below 15 must carry warnings that they only protect against sunburn and not skin aging or skin cancer.
2. Broad spectrum protection (those that block against damaging UVA and UVB rays) claims on sunscreens are now backed by testing.
3. The FDA now prohibits the labeling of sunscreen as “waterproof” or “sweat-proof”. Products can only say water-resistant and must indicate how often it should be reapplied if swimming or sweating.
4. Products must include additional measures for sun protection. Sunscreen will now carry labels stating they can lower one’s risk of skin cancer in combination with limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing and avoiding the sun during midday.

Overall, consumers should look for a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Read the full USA Today article.

Myth: Indoor tanning is safer because it protects you from sunburn by giving you a base tan.  
Fact: There is no such thing as a “safe” or “healthy” tan. A tan is damaged skin and can put the body at risk for skin cancer. Studies show that melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, is the fastest-growing cancer and is being diagnosed in more and more young people, largely attributable to the use of tanning beds.

Myth: You can’t get sun damage on a cloudy day.
Fact: Your skin is at risk even when the sun’s not shinning. The sun’s ultra violet rays can actually break through the clouds. Even on cloudy days you should use sunscreen and lip balm with UVB and UVA protection with SPF 30 or more.

Myth: You need sunlight to get enough Vitamin D.
Fact: The safest way to get Vitamin D is through a healthy diet and supplements, not long hours in the sunlight. Foods such as milk, yogurt, salmon and tuna are all rich with this nutrient. Fifteen minutes a day of sun exposure for three days a week is all you need for adequate levels of Vitamin D.

Myth: People with darker skin can’t get skin cancer.
Fact: Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate – men and women of all ethnicities are at risk. Although darker-skinned people are less likely to get skin cancer than white people, they are typically more likely to die from the disease.

Myth: Eighty percent of sun damage occurs before the age of 18.
Fact: The majority of a person’s sun damage actually occurs later on in life. While many parents are vigilant with keeping their kids safe with sunscreen and protective clothing, they often don’t practice what they preach. It’s important to protect both your children and yourself from sun exposure whenever you are outdoors.

Remembering these sun safety facts can help you and your loved ones prevent sunburn and early signs of aging and most importantly reduce your risk of skin cancer. You can still have fun in the bright summer sun by following these simple steps:

1. Apply one ounce of sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher before going outside
2. Wear protective clothing – sun glasses, hats and clothing made of tightly woven material with long sleeves
3. Avoid tanning beds and sun exposure when it’s the brightest
4. Routinely check your skin by following the ABCDE rule

Visit Save Your Skin to learn more about keeping your skin healthy year round.

While the FDA’s proposed changes to regulation of tanning devices are a welcome step, skin cancer incidence in the U.S. continues to rise. Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, is the fastest-growing cancer and is being diagnosed in more and more young people, largely attributable to the use of tanning beds. There is more work to be done on the regulatory, legislative and education fronts to save lives through prevention and early detection of the disease.

The use of indoor tanning beds by teens remains a problem in the U.S. with 2.3 million teens visiting the tanning salon at least once a year. Experts claim there is still the perception that it’s safer to tan in a salon than in the sun. According to a recent CDC report, “UVA output from indoor tanning devices is four times higher and UVB output is twice as high as noon sunlight in Washington D.C. during the summer.” Health officials worldwide are fighting for tougher warnings and regulations on tanning bed machines that will inform and protect teen and young adult consumers.

Read the Full Bloomberg Business Week Article

The National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be 2 million new diagnoses of skin cancer in the Unites States this year and 76,250 cases of melanoma, skin cancer’s most dangerous form.

Skin cancer manifests itself visibly on the skin and regular checks can help people discover skin cancer in its earliest stages. The mobile app includes a risk assessment survey, periodic reminders to check your body for any signs of skin cancer and pictures of cancerous lesions to make early detection easier.

Read the full Atlantic Article

From birth to age 18 is when the majority of a person’s exposure to ultraviolet rays occurs and serious sunburns drastically increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. Unless sun safety habits are developed early, adolescents and teens do not know or  care about how the sun will affect their skin’s appearance or increase their cancer risk later in life.

In a three year study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, the 50% of fifth graders who were diligent about using sunscreen decreased to 25% when they became eighth graders. This is alarming, especially since Canadian researchers have found that children who use sunscreen on a regular basis are at a lower risk of acquiring moles that can lead to skin cancer in adulthood.

Like learning the habit of wearing seat belts in a car, children should be taught habits for sun safety such as wearing sunscreen and protective clothing when out in the sun. It just may save their lives.

Read the full New York Times article.

We have all been told a million times that tanning causes skin cancer…blah, blah, blah. “I don’t go to the tanning salon, so why should I worry?” Most people like to focus on the present, not what could maybe happen in the future.

As a fellow lover of the sun, it’s hard for me to hear the facts but we all need to know them. We only have one set of skin and it’s going to have to last us for the rest of our life! Melanoma rates have skyrocketed over the past few decades—the incidence rate has more than doubled since 1973. The most affected group? Women in their 20’s. Melanoma is the second most common cancer in women between the ages of 20 and 35, and the leading cause of cancer death in women of that age group.  Many doctors and researchers have attributed this spike to increased tanning and excessive exposure to the sun.

But if I still don’t have your attention maybe this will help. Us girls need to start taking better care of our skin. And not just for the sake of preventing skin cancer—we all will inevitably start to age and sag, why speed up that process now?

Many women report starting to show signs of aging beginning in their late 20’s—fine lines, broken capillaries, looser skin, uneven splotchy patches on the face. While tanning during your youth can hide uneven skin and other imperfections, over time it does much more damage than it temporarily hides.

Just because you don't look like the "tanning mom" doesn't mean that you're not doing irreparable damage to your skin. Photo Credit: TODAY

Over the years, skin naturally loses its elasticity and lines eventually form. There is nothing that can reverse this process—only slow it down. Celebrities and the general public alike have jumped at Botox, fillers, dermabrasions and every product promising them a more youthful appearance. The international anti-aging industry is a $150 BILLION dollar industry for a very obvious reason.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I think that most of us girls spend a good amount of time and money on our appearance. We buy makeup to make ourselves prettier, shampoos to make our hair shiny and beautiful. We meticulously remove body hair and apply products to give us smooth, touchable skin like the smiling girls in the commercials. But despite spending all this time on a beauty regimen, I think we’re forgetting the most important part—a good base (our skin!). Like any good foundation, having that perfect base can make all the difference between looking exhausted and splotchy and having a fresh, glowing complexion.

Beauty editors that once praised and encouraged tanning are now recommending products that give you a sun-kissed summer glow while also protecting your fragile skin. Not just for the sake of preventing cancer, but to keep you looking your best. If we follow the other things they say, why not this one as well?

Love this one--quick, cheap and easy spray tan at home.

Realistically, I think that it will be difficult to do every single thing that I know should do to be sun safe—avoiding the sun between 10 and 4, using palm-full dollops of sunscreen, reapplying often, etc. But I do think that this summer I will at least TRY to make a change. There are so many small things that we already do every day that can be slightly changed to better protect ourselves from the sun.

My personal favorite moisturizer--already has SPF in it!

Things like making sure to spray on sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher while at the pool, switching to moisturizer and makeup with SPF protection  (so easy!!), finding some great sunhats and not baking in the sun excessively. Easy, simple changes. Most importantly, reminding myself that while my summer tan will fade, the damage done WILL DEFINITELY NOT.

Join me this summer and think twice before passing on the sunscreen and pursuing a damaging summer glow. Take the steps today to keep yourself beautiful through every age!

Readers: what are some of your favorite sun-safe products for this summer?

Editor’s Note: The products mentioned in this post are Liona’s suggestions and do not represent an endorsement or promotion by the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

Skin cancer is primarily caused by exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and much of this damaging sun exposure occurs in childhood. There is evidence that sunburned and overexposed skin early in life increases risk of skin cancer later in life. Arizonans are at risk as we enjoy over 300 days of intense sunshine each year. Skin cancer risk can be reduced by avoiding overexposure to damaging UVR; however, studies show that behaviors such as avoiding the sun, wearing sun protective clothing and applying sunscreen are declining in Americans, including parents of infant children. Parents’ knowledge and use of sun safety behaviors directly translate into how they protect their young children from sun overexposure.

The Hats On! Program which has provided 3,000 gift bags to parents will be evaluated for its impact on parents’ sun safety knowledge and attitudes, and their sun safety practices for their babies (and themselves). This study was made possible by the support provided by the Foundation’s 2011 Community Grants program. Feedback from parents has been very positive. Comments include:

• “We love the hat. The brim is much larger than anything we have found for sale.”
• “I would not have purchased a hat on my own.”
• “(I) learned several things– I plan to use them in the future.”

The study will provide gift bags in an outpatient pediatric clinic to 175 families with babies ages 9 months of age and younger who come for a well-check visit. “In our intense Southern Arizona sun, it is critically important that parents provide adequate sun protection for their newborns and infants. Our ‘Hats On!’ program gives parents the information and tools to keep their children safe from the sun’s harmful rays,” said Heather Hiscox, SCI Program Development Coordinator and Hats On! Program Director. “With the Prevent Cancer Foundation funding, we can now work to determine if all of those gift bags made a difference.”

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