Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DR SUN: Hi, I am Eugene Sun Vice President and Chief Medical
officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico.
NARRATOR: July is Summer Sun Safety Month. Dr. Sun what causes skin cancer?
DR. SUN: Skin cancer can be caused by the damage to the DNA in your skin.
Often times this damage can be done by ultra-violet light. There are two types
of ultraviolet light. UVA and UVB, and both together can cause skin damage.
NARRATOR: Who is at risk for skin cancer?
DR. SUN: People with fair skin, and people who have lighter hair, such as blonde or reddish hair
can be at an increased risk for skin cancer. Other risk factors are excessive sun exposure,
for example construction workers, who are out at the sun during the midday hours for
a lot of hours. People, who have a family history of skin cancer or personal history of skin cancer,
will be at an increased risk for cancer as well. People who live in sunny, high altitude,
warm climates are also increased risk. People with many moles or
abnormal moles can also be at increased risk for skin cancer.
NARRATOR: How can you help prevent skin cancer?
DR. SUN: You can prevent skin cancer by protecting your skin from the ultraviolet
rays of the sun. If you are going to be out in the sun wearing long dark clothing, wearing
broad brimmed hats, not baseball caps, can protect you. Also it is important
to wear sunscreen, sun screen that can block both UVA and UVB.
NARRATOR: What is SPF and what amount should I use?
DR. SUN: SPF stands for sun protection factor. It is a measure of the sunscreen's ability to
protect the skin against both UVA and UVB. It is generally believed that you need to
use at least SPF 15. However if you have these risk factors
for skin cancer, such as fair skin, it is recommended that you use
a higher SPF factor such as 30, 45 or even 60.
NARRATOR: How should sunscreen be applied?
DR. SUN: You should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go out into the sun.
It is also recommended that you reapply at least every 2 hours. Depending on what
activity you are doing, for example swimming or the beach is recommended you reapply
every time you get out of the pool or every time you towel off. You might consider
using a water resistant sunscreen, but you should reapply regularly.
NARRATOR: Is my skin protected from the sun on cloudy days?
DR. SUN: Cloudy days do not protect you against UV rays, so the same recommendations
apply even if it is cloudy. Wear long sleeve clothing, as well as use sunscreen
NARRATOR: Should I protect my eyes form the sun?
DR. SUN: Absolutely. You should wear sunglasses that protect a 100% against UV
radiation. UV damage can cause cataracts in your eyes later on in life.
[MUSIC ENDS]