I’m a pretty positive, light-hearted person. I like to kid around a lot and often say jokingly that I’m a skin cancer factory. It’s no joke though. I AM a skin cancer factory. And, there’s nothing positive about it.

When I was growing up my parents were very diligent about sun protection. As I became a self-proclaimed, all-knowing teen I foolishly threw the idea of sun protection out the window. Ball caps were not cute or a staple in our wardrobe like they are now. Girls didn’t really wear hats back then at all except for on Easter Sunday. Sunscreen was greasy, smelly and took forever to dry.

The time between Charlie’s Angels and Baywatch was the hay day for seeking the savage tan. Some of my own antics and those of many youths of that era included visiting tanning beds daily and sometimes twice a day. We weren’t satisfied with just using Hawaiian Tropic. We slathered ourselves with baby oil and iodine concoctions while laying out on metallic, reflective matts. Some of my friends actually used Crisco and perched themselves on their roof to tan. They did not tan though, they sizzled. A very, very painful lesson indeed! Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Fast forward a couple of decades. Sun protection technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. It is incredibly more convenient and user friendly. Ball caps and other hats are adorable and considered very fashionable. Self-tanning lotions and spray tans don’t all make you look like an Oompa Loompa anymore. Society knows about all of the dangers (deadly dangers) of exposure, especially over-exposure to the sun. We’re all making wiser choices now, right?

Well, unfortunately women and men are still making a lot of the same poor choices. Dr. Stephen Sorsby with QualChoice states, “We’re seeing more and more cases of skin cancer. People often don’t take skin cancer seriously. Melanoma is very serious and deadly. They think of it as just a nuisance, but when you have to have something cut off your nose, that’s cosmetically hard to hide. Also, that tan you get at 16 will make you look 35 when you’re only 25!” The Melanoma Research Alliance reports the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, is one of the most common cancers among women under 40.

I had a melanoma cut out of my leg when I was 29. If I had not had that procedure my children might be without a mother right now. Since then I’ve had annual full-body exams. Over the past decade and a half I’ve lost count of how many things I’ve had burned off or cut out of my body. I have had to use medicated creams on my skin that made me look like I had leprosy in order to prevent serious facial surgical procedures.

Why am I sharing all of this? First of all, we at Little Rock Family care about our readers and their families. Secondly, we just want to help families make informed decisions and grow stronger together.

Dr. Sorsby states, “You don’t have to be an indoors person, you just have to prepare. Putting sunscreen on your children should be like making them brush their teeth. You just do it. The single most important thing is to avoid sunburns especially at a younger age.”

Our family’s favorite place to go is the beach. We’re outdoorsy and are still out in the sun a lot. We just try to make wise, realistic choices to ensure everyone’s health and well-being.

Pointers from Real Parents

  1. A layer of Desitin or other zinc oxide diaper cream is a great, gentle sun block for sensitive skin.
  2. When using spray sunscreen, have children hold their breath and close their eyes while you spray in sections in a well ventilated area. Be aware of the direction and force of the wind. The spray may not be making it onto the skin or it’s adhering in haphazard streaks.
  3. Make sure to apply face sunscreen stick in organized, layered strokes or you’ll miss spots causing streaked sunburns. Don’t forget the tops of tender ears.
  4. Remember kids can have skin anomalies too. Check them periodically as well.
  5. Don’t blindly believe kids when they say they already applied sunscreen. Always supplement and reapply.

Skin & Life-Saving Suggestions from QualChoice of Arkansas

  1. Seek the Shade especially between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when the sun is the strongest. An extra rule of thumb is the “shadow rule”. If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s harmful UV radiation is stronger. If your shadow is taller than you are, UV radiation is less intense.
  2. Don’t Burn! A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he/she has had five or more sunburns at any point in life.
  3. Use a Broad Spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen every day. Make sure it is 15 SPF or higher. For extended outdoor activity use a water-resistant formula. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. Be sure to speak with your pediatrician first about what is age appropriate for your kiddos.
  4. Cover Up with clothing. This includes a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses which help protect your face, eyes and scalp.
  5. Examine Your Skin Do head-to-toe self-examinations every month. Follow this up with a doctor’s visit at least once per year or anytime you notice anything out of the ordinary.

For more valuable information, go to Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s website where you'll find a wealth of info to help you protect yourself and your little ones!