| Children need the outdoors as much as we adults do. | | | | one case per 100,000 people. However, the overall |
| I am a huge believer in outdoor time. And as a | | | | melanoma survival rate for African Americans is only |
| gardener I am often outdoors with the children either | | | | 77 percent, versus 91 percent for Caucasians. |
| helping me in the garden or just running around. Being | | | | - While melanoma is uncommon in African Americans, |
| a good parent we are aware that it is our place to | | | | Latinos, and Asians, it is frequently fatal for these |
| protect our child from the sun and rays. | | | | populations. These facts are from the Skin Cancer |
| Did you know that just one blistering sunburn in | | | | Foundation |
| childhood more than doubles your chances of | | | | So ready to choose your sunscreen? How do you |
| developing melanoma later in life? or that A person's | | | | choose? What should you be looking for? |
| risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five | | | | The Sun Screen that you choose should have the |
| or more sunburns at any age. Or that ninety percent | | | | following characteristics. The spf should be at least 15 |
| of pediatric melanoma cases occur in girls aged 10-19. | | | | to 30. The protection should be broad spectrum UVA |
| Neither did I until I checked out the Skin Cancer | | | | and UVB. Water resistant, hyper allergenic and |
| Foundation. | | | | fragrance free are also a few things to look for in |
| A few things to do to avoid sunburn | | | | your sunscreen. |
| - Seek shade | | | | Make sure that you reapply the sunscreen every 2 |
| - Wear a hat | | | | hours or so. It is also suggested that it be PABA |
| - Wear sunglasses | | | | free. Use sunscreen even if it is cloudy outside and |
| - Cover up as much as possible | | | | apply before you see signs of sunburn. Seek a |
| - Wear sunscreen | | | | balance with the application of sunscreen so that you |
| All persons should wear sunscreen it does not matter | | | | do not over nor under apply. Avoid being in the sun |
| on the your nationality. | | | | for prolonged times when it's highest overhead and |
| - Asian American and African American melanoma | | | | therefore the strongest (normally from 10:00 AM until |
| patients have a greater tendency than Caucasians to | | | | 4:00 PM in the northern hemisphere). Quite often the |
| present with advanced disease at time of diagnosis. | | | | sunscreen you choose for your child is one you can |
| - The average annual melanoma rate among | | | | wear also. Take care while you garden or just play |
| Caucasians is about 22 cases per 100,000 people. In | | | | outside. |
| comparison, African Americans have an incidence of | | | | |