IMPORTANT SAFETY INFO

Halloween and Diabetes Advice from Kaiser Permanente

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Around the Water

Winter Sunburns as Dangerous as

Those in Summer

Kaiser Permanente Dermatologist

Offers Timely Tips For Outdoor Activities in the Winter Sunshine

If you are going to spend the weekend painting the house, doing yard work, or other activities in the winter sunshine, don’t forget proper sun protection, advises Susan Boiko, MD, dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente and co-chairwoman of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. That means sunscreen, protective hats and clothing, and good quality sunglasses – even for children and babies.

“When it comes to the sun, there's no such thing as overprotection,” says Dr. Boiko, who sees lots of sunburned patients throughout the year.

“Because temperatures at this time of the year are mild and the sunshine hours are shorter, it may be tempting to try and get that California tan while doing yard work or participating in outdoor events.

"A tan is a sign of skin damage," Dr. Boiko says. The long term effect on skin from prolonged or frequent sun is wrinkles, thinning of the skin, and nasty skin cancers. Frequent or over exposure to the sun causes premature aging, and increases the risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Occurrence of the most-dangerous skin cancer, melanoma, has doubled in the last 25 years, Dr. Boiko says, and it is estimated that one in 75 Americans will get melanoma at some time during their lives.

Dr. Boiko, a board certified pediatrician and dermatologist, sees hundreds of adult patients with melanoma each year. She also sees other types of skin cancers on a daily basis including the much more common basal cell and squamous cell cancers. They are treatable but can cause severe damage if unrecognized.

Timely Tips For Sun Safety

The good news is that these skin cancers can be prevented. "Just as you insist your children brush their teeth after meals, sun safety should be an automatic behavior--for all family members," Dr. Boiko advises. "Being sun safe benefits adults and children, by decreasing the risk of developing skin cancer." It also can make the difference between a fun family day in the bright sunshine of San Diego and a cranky, crying child or an adult who is up all night with sunburn pain.

Data show that seventy percent of sun damage is from casual sun exposure, such as when kids are roller-blading, riding their bikes or playing at the park or playground. For babies, it may be that outing in the stroller without the awning down, or prolonged sun exposure from a day in the back yard with just a light hat and no protective shade.

Dr. Boiko cautions that skin cancer can occur in skin of all races, even in people who never tan or "tan well" -- its not just a concern for fair-skinned people.

To protect your family against long-term sun damage, Dr. Boiko offers the following tips:

• Avoid prolonged sun exposure during the most sun-intensive hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. When the sun makes short shadows seek shade!
• Use sunscreen as a moisturizer, make sunscreen part of your family's daily routine. Apply liberally, and re-apply often during the day, particularly when out in the sun.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF factor of at least 15. By using broad spectrum sunscreens that contain avobenzone , titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide in combination with the other ingredients, your family is protected from both UVA and UVB rays.
• Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun whenever possible. A sunburn on a small infant can be a medical emergency. A hat is not enough – make sure there is an awning on the stroller, and that if baby sunglasses are used, they are the kind that offer UV protection.
• Wear good sunglasses. Prolonged exposure to the sun is associated with cataracts. Go for the glasses that have UV protection.
• Wear hats with wide brims (at least 4 to 6 inches) to protect nose, neck, ears and scalp. Wear hats even in the car as UV light comes in side windows more than the windshield.
• Remember that using sunscreen doesn't mean you can stay in the sun for hours on end. "If your skin normally burns in 10 minutes and you use an SPF 15 sunblock, you are theoretically protected 15 times longer, or for 150 minutes," says Dr. Boiko "And that time can be much less, depending on the strength of the sun and the amount of sunscreen used. It's best to get in the shade or go indoors after 2 hours. Wear as much protective clothing- hats, long sleeved t-shirts and long pants."
• Make sure kids wear sunscreen whenever they are outdoors.
• Don't skimp. "People typically don't apply enough sunscreen," says Dr. Boiko. "It's important to use enough to completely soak your skin. If using white creams, put it on so whiteness covers skin, then rub in until it disappears. Otherwise, use a blob the size of a quarter for the back of an adult hand, and to reapply every two hours.
And of course, taking these steps yourself will help your children learn these habits, says Dr. Boiko.

Looking for little suntane color in winter? if your choice is a Tanning bed think again!

KAISER PERMANENTE serves approximately 500,000 members in the San Diego Area who receive their medical care from a total staff of more than 6,500 employees and 800 physicians. The San Diego Area includes 19 outpatient medical office facilities and a medical center with 395 licensed hospital beds, and a 24-hour emergency. Kaiser Permanente has been in the San Diego area since 1967.