{"621539":{"#nid":"621539","#data":{"type":"news","title":"4 Ways to Protect Yourself from Harmful Rays","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aimatmelanoma.org\/about-melanoma\/melanoma-stats-facts-and-figures\/\u0022\u003EMelanoma is the third most common cancer among women ages 20 - 39 and the second most common cancer in men ages 20- 39\u003C\/a\u003E. According to the World Health Organization, about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aimatmelanoma.org\/about-melanoma\/melanoma-stats-facts-and-figures\/\u0022\u003E132,000\u003C\/a\u003E new cases of melanoma are diagnosed worldwide each year, and in the United States, the percentage of people who develop melanoma has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aimatmelanoma.org\/about-melanoma\/melanoma-stats-facts-and-figures\/\u0022\u003Emore than doubled\u003C\/a\u003E in the past 20 years. There are many risk factors for melanoma that are out of your control, like family history, having fair skin, and old age. However, there are other risks that you can avoid including ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. In fact, while UV rays make up only a very small portion of the sun\u0026rsquo;s rays, they are the main cause of the damaging effects of the sun on the skin. Here are four easy ways to reduce UV ray exposure during the upcoming spring and summer months.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse Sunscreen\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Everyone should wear sunscreen as anyone can get skin cancer regardless of age, gender, or race\u0026rdquo;, says Health Initiatives health educator, Sarah Morales. When looking for an effective type of sunscreen, there are multiple characteristics to consider. First, make sure that you choose a broad spectrum sunscreen which protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause cancer, however, UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin. Also, make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 (blocks 97% of UVB rays) or more and is water resistant. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun\u0026#39;s UV rays can penetrate your skin. Make sure to apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before heading outside and don\u0026#39;t forget to reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating excessively!\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeek Shade\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAn obvious, but important way to reduce sun exposure is to avoid staying in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Keep in mind that UV light is the strongest from 10 am to 4 pm, but if you are unsure about how strong the sun\u0026rsquo;s rays are, you can use the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/skin-cancer\/prevention-and-early-detection\/uv-protection.html\u0022\u003Eshadow test\u003C\/a\u003E! Simply find your shadow and see if it is shorter than you are. If it is, then the sun\u0026rsquo;s rays are at their strongest.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWear Protective Clothing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EPut on your hat, shirt, and shades. With additional clothing, you are able to create a barrier between yourself and UV rays. Dark, tightly woven, and dry fabric typically provides the most protection. Also, keep in mind that a hat with a wider brim will be able to protect not only your head but also some parts of your neck as well! When finding an effective pair of sunglasses, look for the \u0026ldquo;Meets ANSI UV Requirements\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;UV absorption up to 400 nm\u0026rdquo; labels which signify that the glasses block 99% to 100% of the sun\u0026rsquo;s rays.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAvoid Tanning Beds and Sun Lamps\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETanning lamps give out both UVA and UVB rays which can cause long-term skin damage. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/skin-cancer\/prevention-and-early-detection\/uv-protection.html\u0022\u003ETanning bed usage has been linked to an increased risk of melanoma\u003C\/a\u003E, especially if started before the age of 30. If you want a tan, consider using a sunless tanning lotion instead, which can darken your skin without the increased risk of skin cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe sun can affect your skin in many ways which is why it is important to protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays! Before you step outside during these warm summer months, remember to protect your skin.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMay is melanoma and skin cancer protection month. Check out these four easy steps to protect your skin all year long!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"May is melanoma and skin cancer protection month. Check out these four easy steps to protect your skin all year long!\u00a0"}],"uid":"27649","created_gmt":"2019-05-09 13:57:37","changed_gmt":"2019-05-09 13:57:37","author":"Christine Kapurch","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2019-05-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2019-05-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"621538":{"id":"621538","type":"image","title":"Sun","body":null,"created":"1557408338","gmt_created":"2019-05-09 13:25:38","changed":"1557408338","gmt_changed":"2019-05-09 13:25:38","alt":"","file":{"fid":"236749","name":"rose-erkul-36990-unsplash.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/rose-erkul-36990-unsplash.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/rose-erkul-36990-unsplash.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":926138,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/rose-erkul-36990-unsplash.jpg?itok=A-pV_b2p"}}},"media_ids":["621538"],"groups":[{"id":"428961","name":"Health and Well-Being"},{"id":"111091","name":"Health Services"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"12533","name":"health promotion"},{"id":"166906","name":"Stamps"},{"id":"181266","name":"suncare"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"173183","name":"health and wellbeing"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENicole Kajzer\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMarketing Intern\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}