It’s Only Skin Deep!Sunscreen & Skin Cancer

Facts for Swimmers

Swimmer /Gold Medalist Troy Dalbey:

• “What did I have to fear? It would never happen to me. I was blessed, not cursed, like those goofy actors in the public service announcements.”

• Swimming World, July 2000

Why Your Skin is Important• Skin is the largest Organ in your body and

it’s most powerful auto-immune system• Skin serves as a barrier between germs,

such as bacteria, and internal organs• Skin regulates body temperature and

helps the body get rid of excess water and salts

• Cells in the skin communicate with the brain and allow for temperature, touch, and pain sensations

Risk Factors for Skin Cancer• unprotected and/or excessive

exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation • fair complexion, light eyes • Daily or occupational exposures to

outdoor sunlight• family history • severe sunburns as a child – three or

more severe burns before the age of 20 multiplies odds of skin cancer 300%

Types of Skin Cancer• The American Cancer Society estimates

there will be about 11,590 deaths from skin cancer in 2009

• Three types of skin cancer:– Melanoma– Squamous– Basal Cell

Melanoma in the United States – 2009 Estimates New Cases 68,720 Deaths Per Year 8,650 5-Year Localized Survival Rate* 99% 5-Year Overall Survival Rate* 91%

Prevention Tips – Part I• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Seek shade: if your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

• Slip on a shirt or wear a rash guard: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun.

• Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen and reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring.

• Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.

Prevention Tips – Part I• Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a

wide-brimmed hat. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.

• Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.

• Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.

• Tanning beds and sun lamps are just as dangerous as direct sun.

Tanning Booths and Beds• This year’s Miss Florida

Teen USA Kayla Collier, 17, wants to make it harder for teens to tan in the sunshine state. Kayla recently discovered she has skin cancer from visiting the tanning salon since she was 15 so her skin wouldn’t look ghostly white in local pageants.

Sunscreen!!!• SPF = Sun Protection Value• SPF 15 sunscreen may absorb more than

92 percent of UVB radiation• SPF 30 sunscreen may absorb 96.7

percent• SPF 40 sunscreen may absorb 97.5

percent of UVB radiation• Sunscreen DOESN’T ONLY prevent

sunburns. It protects against long term damage of UV Radiation

• No chemical sunscreen blocks 100 percent of all UV radiation

Sunscreen Vs Sun Block• UV Radiation comes in 2 forms: UVA and

UVB• Sunscreens absorb UVA while Sunblocks

scatter both UVAand UVB and act a wall between the sun and your skin

• Sunblock contains physical (usually metallics) or inorganic ingredients. Look for Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide as the main ingredient

• Look for a “Broad Spectrum” Sunscreen which will have features of both.

Waterproof vs Water Resistant

• “Water-Resistant“ maintains its SPF level after 40 minutes of water exposure

• “Waterproof” maintains its SPF level following 80 minutes of exposure to water

• All sunscreen is expected to degrade after two hours of wear

Common Sunscreen Mistakes• Not enough is applied! The amount

required by an average person in tank top and shorts is _____?

• Applied too late – it takes sunscreen 20 minutes to absorb into the skin. Apply before going out.

• Not re-applied! Sunscreen degrades after 2 hours of use. Activities can shorten that time because the body sweats.

• Combining products doesn’t work. SPF 15 + SPF 20 doesn’t equal SPF 35. You get the coverage of the highest rated product.

Which one is best• Money doesn’t affect SPF ratings.• SPF of 50 or higher doesn’t really pay off

(except for an infant) – the sunscreen will degrade before the added protection kicks in.

• SPF 15 should be the minimum protection. SPF 30 if you are light skinned or freckled.

• Gel, spray or lotion? The ratings are based on a “liberal coating”, which means sprays should not be disbursed or rubbed on.

Swimmer /Gold Medalist Troy Dalbey:

• “My point is not just to wear sunscreen. It's to do what those who care most about you say to do. It's good to take the advice of others who are wiser and who have made similar mistakes. Take heed to what they say so that you may be able to avoid a similar fate..”

• Swimming World, July 2000