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UV Safety Awareness Month

Summer has arrived and while the sun is shining bright it’s a golden time to highlight July as UV Safety Awareness Month!

The sun emits radiation known as UV-A and UV-B rays. Both types can damage your eyes and skin:

• UV-B rays have short wavelengths that reach the outer layer of your skin
• UV-A rays have longer wavelengths that can penetrate the middle layer of your skin

By learning the risks associated with too much sun exposure and taking the right precautions to protect you and your family from UV rays, everyone can enjoy the sun and outdoors safely.

Here are the harmful things unprotected sun exposure can do:

• Premature aging of the skin
• Skin cancer

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

These are the two most common types of skin cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms which have had the most cumulative amount of sun exposure over the years. However the skin cancer can occur anywhere. Basal cell carcinoma grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma sometimes spread to lymph nodes and organs inside the body, known as metastasis. The best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun at all ages. Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers can be cured if found and treated early. If a change on the skin is seen, for example a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal or a change in an old growth, please come to see us for an evaluation and diagnosis.