NW Women's Forum Offers Sun Advice

Summer has finally arrived, and we all feel better when the sun is shining, but these days the potential dangers of prolonged or even short-term exposure to sunlight are well known.

In strong sunshine the suns ultraviolet (UV) rays can quickly burn and blister skin, and during the peak summer months the UV rays are strong enough to cause damage even on cloudy days.

Sunburn is always uncomfortable, but does heal. However, regular exposure to the sun greatly increases the risk of skin cancer later in life. This type cancer is generally treatable but it needs to be caught early. Too much sun also speeds up the ageing of your skin, making it leathery, mottled and wrinkled.

There is nothing wrong in enjoying the sun, providing you take a few simple precautions.

So, what can you do about it?

§ Be aware of the damage that the sun can cause, and protect yourself from direct sunlight, particularly during the three to four hours around the middle of the day when the sun is most intense.

§ Ultimately the best protection is to keep covered up, long sleeves and trousers or a long skirt will stop most of the suns UV rays.

§ Wearing a hat will help protect the top of your head.

§ Use sunblock cream (Sun Protection Factor SPF 30) to protect those parts of your skin which you cannot cover up, e.g. your face and forehead, the back of your neck and the back of your hands.

§ Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Look out for unusual skin blemishes:

With skin cancer, the first warning sign is often a small scabby spot which does not clear up after a few weeks. Look for changed or newly formed moles or any skin discolouration. If you notice any of these things check them out with your doctor.
The smaller the spot the easier it is to cure so don't delay going to the doctor when you know you should!

Taken from the NoWW Forum Newsletter Issue 2.

Go to North West Regional Women's Commmittee pages to download a copy and other information.

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