Unknown to many, prevention of moles and melanoma is possible.
What causes moles?
Moles and melanoma are mainly caused environmental factors such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation either from the sun or tanning salon. Thus, the best way to prevent the growth of moles is to protect yourself from the sun.
Here are 10 sensible sun tips you can follow to protect yourself:
1. In general, seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, generously applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen, and following the UV index forecast to avoid sunlight during peak hours can help you avoid damaging sun exposure.
2. Remember that the shorter the shadow you cast, the greater your at risk from sun exposure.
3. Don’t patronize tanning salons. Exposure to tanning lamps before age 35 increases melanoma risk by 75%!
4. During times of intense sun, wear protective clothing, preferably in tight weaves. If you can see through the cloth when it is held up to light, then it probably offers inadequate protection. The sun protection factor for a typical t-shirt is only 6 — and much lower when the shirt gets wet.
5. Don’t forget to protect your head. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, with at least a four-inch brim all the way around. (Don’t wear a baseball cap backward!)
6. Make sure your sunscreen covers your ears and your neck up to the hairline.
7. Protect your skin even on cloudy days. Clouds let most of the UV light pass through. Beach umbrellas and other shading devices offer only partial protection, because sand reflects a great deal of UV light. Apply a heavy, even coat of sunscreen lotion forty-five minutes before you go out, and reapply it frequently on humid days and when you’ll be swimming or sweating a lot—even if the product is supposedly waterproof.
8. Protect yourself with sunscreen when you are on a skiing trip too. Snow reflects more radiation, and the intensity of the sun’s rays increases at high altitudes.
9. Be cautious about using certain prescription drugs that increase sun sensitivity, such as some acne medications, antibiotics like doxycycline or tetracycline, and some diuretics.
10. Don’t consume alcohol and sit in the sun—you might fall asleep and get burned.
Here is how you can protect your child:
Go to special lengths to protect your children from the sun; their skin is especially vulnerable to damage, and sunburns in childhood increase the growth of moles and risk of melanoma in adulthood. Kids get huge amounts of sun exposure, playing on exposed shade free astro-turf or fields at high noon. Keeping sunscreen lotion on and reapplying frequently just won’t do the trick. The best way is to scheduling the time for outdoor play to the sunsafe times, early in the morning or late afternoon.
Since children tend to imitate their parents, set a good example by covering them and yourself and avoiding Outdoor activities during hours of prime intensity, ideally the three hours before and after solar noon.