Sun protection now could be a lifesaver later
By Rene Gonzalez, MD

Just as you would never let your children go outside without proper protection from the cold, you also should never let them play outside without proper protection from the sun and its damaging ultra violet (UV) rays.

Living in an active city like Denver, with an average of 300 sunny days a year, you should be aware of the following:

• UV rays are stronger at higher altitudes (Denver is already 5,280 feet above sea level, and you aren't even in the mountains yet!)
• UV rays are stronger during the middle of the day when the sun is higher (generally 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and in the summer months. Keep in mind however, the threat for sunburn exists any time the sun is out - any time of year
• Two or three blistering sunburns before the age of 10 more than doubles the lifetime risk of developing melanoma (the incidence of which is more than doubling every decade)
• It is possible to get sunburned while in the water or on a cloudy/overcast day
  and
• Surfaces like a cement sidewalk or snow can reflect the sun's rays causing even more damage.

There are two main ways you can protect yourself and your little ones from the sun.  One is to wear protective clothing like wide-brimmed or rimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants.  The second is to always apply sunscreen to the areas of skin exposed to the sun.  When choosing a sunscreen, it is important to pay attention to the sun protection factor (SPF) rating; a complete or total-block sunscreen will have an SPF of at least 15.  That means it will take you 15 times longer to burn with the sunscreen than without.

Also, it is crucial to teach your children the importance of protecting themselves and to show them how to properly apply sunscreen (see the manufacturer's instruction on the container).  Remember, many people who suffer serious sunburns as children don't realize the full danger/effects until adulthood, when melanoma takes hold.

Another precaution you should take is to do periodic checks for melanoma.  While melanoma is the deadliest of all skin cancers, it also is highly curable if caught early.  Years ago doctors developed the ABCs of melanoma, to help people understand what a melanoma might look like.

Familiarize yourself with your own markings and those of your children and look for changes in any of the following areas:

1. A is for asymmetry: When one side of a mole doesn't look like the other.
2. B is for border: Cancerous lesions have irregular or notched borders.
3. C is for color: Melanomas sometimes vary in colors from shades of brown, red, black and even flesh-colored.
4. D is for diameter: Lesions that are larger than a pencil eraser should be examined though this may be the least important criteria.  Doctors are now seeing more smaller melanomas.

If you notice changes in size, color, texture, or if it is crusting or bleeding, that should be a warning sign.  Know your body.  If birthmarks, moles, or other pigmented spots grow or change, notify your doctor right away.  It could mean the difference between life and death.

About the Author: Dr. Gonzalez is an associate professor of Medicine and of Dermatology, and Director of the Melanoma Research Clinics at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center.  Dr. Gonzalez's clinical interests are malignant melanoma and other cutaneous malignancies; his research interests focus on conventional and experimental treatment of melanoma.

To make an appointment or for more information about the University of Colorado Hospital Cancer Center, visit www.uccc.info, or call 720-848-0300 or 1-800-473-2288.