Now that the summer is near, are you protecting your skin

Well you should because melanoma rates have increased, especially among women under 40, according to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic.

Published in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the incidence of melanoma has escalated, and young women are the hardest hit.

Women under 40 are eight times more likely to get skin cancer now than they were in 1970.  There is a dramatic rise of skin cancer rates in women in their 20s and 30s.

Although people are aware of the dangers of sun exposure and tanning beds, they aren’t changing their ways, says Dr. Jerry Brewer, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic.

Tips for everyone to remember:

• Apply sunscreen at least one hour before you enter the sun. The sunscreen needs time to absorb into your skin.
• One study finds 9 out of 10 people don’t do a good enough job when applying sunscreen.  When applying,  focus on one area at a time and don’t miss spots like feet, tops of ears, temples, and the back of the neck.
• Use enough lotion. You’ll need at least one ounce of sunscreen to cover your entire body.
• Squeeze the lotion directly from the container onto the area of skin you’re protecting and rub it in with your fingertips, rather than squeezing lotion into the palm of your hands.
• If you’re fair, have a family history of melanoma, or have suffered several bad sunburns in your life, you should see a dermatologist every six months.
• There is no such thing as a base tan – tanned skin is damaged.
• Just because your skin is naturally dark and never burns, it doesn’t mean you don’t need sunscreen.