VICARI ISSUES SUN WARNING – WATCH THOSE UV RAYS
AND DON’T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN
THE OFFICIAL START of summer is only days away and Ocean County’s beaches are already filled with sun worshippers.
But Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari warned that too much sun can pose a serious risk to both adults
and children.
“Everyone loves a day at the beach, but the sun can cause serious short-term and long-term problems for even young
and healthy people,” he said.
And a bad burn can mean more than just a painful experience.
“The sun, not time, accounts for most damage to the skin,” Vicari said. “Coarse and leathery skin, deep wrinkles and
age spots can all result from too much sun.”
Sun exposure also accounts for a great many of the nearly 1 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year,
according to the American Cancer Society.
About 54,000 of these cases are melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
“Ever since Americans fell in love with the bronzed look, skin cancers have been on the rise,” said Freeholder Gerry P.
Little.
When melanoma is caught in its early stages, it is highly curable. Untreated, melanoma can spread quickly into the body
from the skin, said Little, who is liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health.
“Any new growth on the skin—or changes to an older one—should be looked at by a dermatologist,” Little said.
When it comes to melanoma, dermatologists suggest looking for the “ABCDs” of cancer.
“A stands for asymmetry of the shape of the mole,” Vicari said. “B is for irregular border. C is for different colors
in the same mole. And D means a mole or mark with a diameter greater than the size of a pencil.”
Other warning signs of skin cancer include:
Changes in the shape or pigmentation of a mole.
Oozing or bleeding from a bump.
A sensation of itchiness, sensitivity or pain.
If exposure to the sun can’t be avoided, Vicari said a sunscreen is the best protection against the harmful rays.
“Sunscreens should be applied by using a full ounce to cover the face and hands,” he said. “Generally for daily use,
an SPF-15 should be adequate with SPF-30 for high sunny, outdoor activities. If spending a day outdoors at the beach,
use SPF-30 and reapply after 3-4 hours.
A wide-brim hat can also help keep the sun off your face and neck, he said.
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