Bayhealth is giving you the skinny on skin protection during Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May.
“We hope people can enjoy the upcoming summer beach season but also understand the hazards caused by overexposure to the sun. In addition to damaging your skin, you can develop even more serious problems such as skin cancer,” said Bayhealth Cancer Nurse Navigator Paula Hess, MSN, RN, OCN.
According to Hess, simple precautions will allow you to enjoy the great outdoors while still protecting yourself from potential skin issues:
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If you know you’re going to be outdoors exposed to the summer sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours or more if you’re swimming or perspiring.
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If you can, try to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the most intense.
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Limit your sun exposure by wearing light colored long sleeve shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats.
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Watch for signs of skin damage including moles, lesions, a reddened skin area, a sore that does not heal, or changes in an existing mole. If you see these warnings flags, get them checked by a doctor!
To help raise awareness about skin health and educate the public, Bayhealth will sponsor a series of free skin screenings in May:
Skin Cancer Screenings
Monday, May 7
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Bayhealth Cancer Center at Milford Memorial Hospital
21 W. Clarke Avenue, Milford
Get Directions
Friday, May 25
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
737 S Queen St
Dover, DE
Get Directions
To register for the screenings, please call (302) 744-6752 or (302) 430-5064.