Summer Alert: Remember to Protect Your Skin

Summer is officially here! It’s time for backyard barbecues, spending hours in the pool, and soaking up the sun’s rays at the beach, especially after a long winter and over a year in lockdown. We deserve to enjoy these days in the sun, but it's important to remind ourselves of the potential skin cancer risks and what preventable actions we can take to minimize our exposure this Summer!

The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted from the sun. These UV rays cause irreparable damage to the skin cells in the outer layer of the skin, causing mutations that lead to the formation of malignant tumors.The four main kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma, with melanoma being the most dangerous and aggressive. 

Every sunburn you have endured your whole life, yes even in childhood, increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Research shows, having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma. Preventing the risk of sunburn and exposure to UV light can help reduce the risk of skin cancer development.

Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer:

It is important to remember that although sun exposure is highest in the summer, protection from the sun’s rays is important all year long! Below are a few helpful tips to reduce your exposure to UV rays.

• Check the UV Index to forecast the strength of UV rays. If it is 3 or higher, use measures to protect your skin from too much exposure.
• Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50%. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or directly after you come out of the water.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
• Checking your skin daily can help you identify any changes in mole or skin condition right away to be discussed with your health care professional.

 

99 percent of all skin cancer cases are curable if they are treated early enough. Habit Camera helps to check hard to view places, like your back, comfortably and accurately allowing our users to easily incorporate skin checks into their daily routines. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they are 70, try to make sure that one isn’t you.

About Habit Camera

Habit Camera is an affordable, ergonomic, and wireless camera built for skin inspection in modern telehealth. High quality, iOS, and Android compatible, Habit Camera is accessible to everyone, regardless of physical conditions, making it easier to make skin inspection a habit. 

Learn more about Habit Camera's unique features, back-story, and how you can pre-order today!