Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Tuesday, May 18,2021 ®Ijt 1) trait) <©a?Ettf 7A MELANOMA/SKIN CANCER DETECTION & PREVENTION MONTH Factors that can increase your risk of skin damage from the sun Summer is a great time to get outside and soak up some sun. Weekend afternoons spent on the water, lounging at the beach or working in the backyard are part and parcel of many people’s summers, making June, July and August some of the most relaxing, enjoy able months of the year. Skin damage may be the furthest thing from many people’s minds when they’re planning to spend summer after noons outdoors. Howev er, the American Cancer Society notes that no one is immune from the dam age that can be caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun. That includes people with naturally darker skin. According to the ACS, people with light skin are much more likely to suffer from skin damage caused by the sun’s UV rays, and such individuals also are at greater risk for skin can cer. But darker-skinned individuals of all ethnic backgrounds also can suffer from UV-related skin damage. Fair skin is not the only factor that can make people more vulnerable to skin-related sun dam age or even skin can cer. The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research report that non-melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most commonly occurring can cer in the world, while melanoma is 19th on that list. Such statistics un derscore the importance of recognizing those fac tors that could increase your risk for sun-related skin damage, which the Centers for Disease Con trol and Prevention notes is one of the risk factors for skin cancer. The ACS urges all people to be careful in the sun, and people who have any of these risk factors should be espe cially careful. • A past skin cancer diagnosis • A family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma • The presence of many moles, irregular moles or large moles on your skin • You have freckles and burn before tanning • You have blue or green eyes, or blond, red or light brown hair • You live or vacation at high altitudes, as UV rays are stronger the higher up you are • You live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates • You work indoors all week and then get intense sun exposure on weekends • You spend a lot of time outdoors • You have been diagnosed with certain autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) • You have certain inherited conditions that increase your risk of skin cancer, such as xeroder ma pigmentosum or ne void basal cell carcinoma syndrome, also known as Gorlin syndrome • You have a medical condition that weakens your immune system, such as infection with HIV • You have had an organ transplant • You take medicines that lower or suppress your immune system • You take medicines that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight Summer is a great time to get outdoors. But it’s imperative that all peo ple, regardless of their skin tones, take steps to protect themselves from sun-related skin damage. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen It can be easy to forget to apply sunscreen when a sunny summer day beckons you to get out side and enjoy the great outdoors. But forget ting to apply sunscreen before spending time in the sun is a potentially deadly mistake. Accord ing to the World Health Organization, one in every three cancers diag nosed is a skin cancer. In addition, the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. The discomfort of a sunburn might seem relatively harmless, but the rela tionship between sun burns and cancer risk is significant. The SCF notes that having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma, a type of skin cancer that often and quickly spreads to nearby lymph nodes. Per haps that’s one reason why the American Cancer Society reports that the number of new invasive melanoma cases diag nosed annually increased by 47 percent between 2010 and 2020. Avoiding sunburn by applying and reapplying a broad-spec trum sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 should be a priority for anyone spending time outdoors. T SHEPHERDCARE ^1 H O i P I C E "CARE" it s not just our name, it's our lifestyle! GRIFFIN OFFICE: 1501B Kalamazoo Dr., Griffin, GA 30224 THOMASTON OFFICE: 201 N. Church St., Thomaston, GA 30286 We service all surrounding counties to each office. www.ShepherdCareGA.com Contact: Meredith Smith Director of Marketing 678-603-1321 Risk factors for melanoma Skin protection takes center stage each spring and summer. Though it’s important to protect skin whenever spending time outdoors, including in winter, many people get the bulk of their out doors time in when the weather is at its warm est, making sunscreen a must-have accessory in spring and summer. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can spread rapidly to other organs if it is not treated at an early stage. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that between 70 and 80 percent of mela nomas arise on normal looking skin. When skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, that exposure can contribute to skin damage. Ultimately, mela noma can occur when damage from sunburn or tanning due to UV radia tion triggers mutations that lead to uncontrolled cellular growth. Because melanoma is inextricably linked to exposure to UV radia tion, it’s understandable if people assume that it’s always preventable. However, the American Cancer Society notes that there is no way for people to completely pre vent melanoma. That’s because some of the risk factors are beyond individuals’ control. However, other risk fac tors are within people’s control, and recognizing those factors can help people lower their risk for melanoma. Uncontrollable risk factors Genetics and skin type are two significant risk factors for melanoma that are beyond indi viduals’ control. The SCF notes that one in every 10 melanoma patients has a family member who had the disease. In addi tion, melanoma is found more frequently in peo ple with fair skin than in people with darker skin. Melanoma also is found more in people with light eyes, light-colored hair and red hair. People with these physical characteristics and family histories must be especially vigilant when spending time outdoors. Applying sun screen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and wearing protective clothing and hats that protect the skin from UV radiation are two ways that people with fair skin and fam ily histories can protect themselves from mela noma. Controllable risk factors Unprotected or exces sive UV exposure is a significant risk factor for melanoma. Anyone, regardless of their fam ily history or skin type, should prioritize pro tecting their skin when spending time outdoors. The American Skin Asso ciation advises all people to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Tanning beds also pose a threat in relation to melanoma. The ACS notes that the idea that the UV rays of tanning beds are harmless is a misconception. Tanning lamps give off UV rays that can cause long-term skin damage and the ACS reports that tanning bed use has been linked to an increased risk of mela noma, especially among people who use such beds prior to turning 30. Checking the skin routinely is another way to combat melanoma. The ACS notes that cer tain types of moles are more likely to develop into melanoma than others. Routine self examinations of skin can help people spot new or abnormal moles or other growths. Recognizing these abnormalities and reporting them to a phy sician immediately can help doctors treat them before they turn into skin cancer. Melanoma is a poten tially deadly form of skin cancer. Recognizing the various risk factors for melanoma is an impor tant first step in combat ting the disease. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! News: Online 24/7 +print edition weekly $ 30 local year subscription 770-358-NEWS Georgia Department of Public Health District 4 Public Health LAMAR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Lamar County Health Department 100 Academy Drive Barneville, GA 30204 Phone (770)358-1483 Make your appointment today! Clinic: 1(800)847-4262 /(706)845-4035 WIC: 1(866)636-7942 / (706)298-6080 Hours Monday - Friday 8:00a.m.- 5:00p.m. m © www.district4health.org District4Health © D4publichealth H circulationibarnesville.com Serving: Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, PrOtCCt Lives. Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson Counties. When Spring Fever Turns Into Hay Fever... Hines Prescription Shop CAN HELP! Let our friendly and knowledgeable staff help you find the right product for your comfort and well being! 302 College Dr. • Barnesville 770-358-2266