Doing More to Prevent Skin Cancer

[Be sure to update the first paragraph with the following lines:

Skin cancer: A preventable threat can hurt the skin, and the media and Hollywood have done much to portray that message. In the book, "Think Twice Before Sunning," sociologist Thomas A. Merl suggests we try to persuade culture industries to make their stories and images more realistic about what we might face as we carelessly ski¹. The idea is to remind people they can encourage simple cultural messages to guide them into more healthy sun choice behaviors. These behaviors start with the sunscreen, a critical link in the continuum of sun safety.

All people need sunscreen because they all need sun. In most parts of the world, the protective benefits of that sun are enhanced by reducing or interfering with additional exposure to UV-rays. Many people have even greater skin protection needs for more extreme activities. People on the water with scuba gear need a higher-quality mineral-based spray sunscreen when they use 50+ SPF (weight)-sunscreen oil. Lurkers on dark skin sites like the wooded trails must use a zinc oxide or a combination zinc oxide/titanium dioxide uplifted “daily wear” sunscreen at the very least a SPF of 30 (weight). In a location with consistently high UV levels, they should up-grade to zinc oxide, or Zinc Oxide/Titanium Dioxide with an SPF value of at least 50 (weight)

1. Yes, even if there has been little direct sun this winter