Dear Abby: A couple of weeks ago I was at the beach on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I spent most of the time in the water and sunning myself. I didn`t have any sunscreen because I ran out and neglected to buy more. (It`s also quite expensive.)
Well, I learned the hard way that the sun is much stronger between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. than the rest of the day, and also that the gradual loss of our ozone layer causes the sun to do more damage to the skin than ever before! I burned my back so badly that I had to lie on my stomach for 4 1/2 days because the pain from sitting down, leaning back in a chair and bending my knees to walk was too excruciating! It`s been almost two weeks, and I`ve already peeled three layers of skin in most places and am still having trouble walking, because the veins in one leg have begun to clot up from lying dormant for so long.
I`m glad I have health insurance to pay for the ultrasound that had to be done, not to mention the doctor visits and prescriptions. Unfortunately, I missed celebrating my wedding anniversary, because I couldn`t move.
Abby, please urge your readers to learn from my misery.
Fried in Minnesota
Dear Fried: I`m sorry about your mishap-but I`m publishing your letter to warn others:
Readers, exposure to ultraviolet radiation is one of the leading contributing factors to two kinds of skin cancer-and most of it is
attributable to tanning.
Dermatologists recommend the following measures:
Minimize exposure to ultraviolet rays. The sun`s effects are at a peak between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. If outdoor activities cannot be avoided during these times, wear a hat and protective clothing. These precautions should be especially heeded by fair-skinned people, because they are at a high risk for skin cancer.
Be aware that reflective surfaces such as sand, snow, ice and concrete can reflect from 5 percent to 50 percent of the sun`s rays.
If you are considering using a tanning salon, discuss it with a dermatologist first.
Use a sunscreen of at least 15 SPF whenever the skin is to be exposed to the sun. Fair-skinned people should apply sunscreens more liberally.
Infants and small children also need to be protected from the sun if they are to be outdoors for prolonged periods.
Remember that people who sunbathe are mortgaging their future looks for a temporary ”glow.” Even those lucky enough to escape skin cancer will still suffer premature aging of the skin from ultraviolet exposure-wrinkles and leathery thickening of the skin.
It`s time for a new standard of beauty-the natural complexion-to be instituted, because only those who refrain from tanning their hides will save their skins!
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