Page 3 - TR What Women Want May 2016

BY CODY GRAVES
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Summer is almost here, and with it comes warm temperatures, longer days and trips to the lake.
While sun seekers may be ready to get out of the house to catch some rays, sunlight can create some short-term and long-term effects to the skin.
Skin cancer has become the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. The disease occurs when skin cells are damaged by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, often known as UVA and UVB rays.
“[The radiation] damages the DNA of the cells,” said Jennifer McLaughlin, M.D. at McLaughlin Dermatology in Batesville. “If [the cell] can’t repair the DNA, then it replicates the damaged DNA until you end up with a bunch of damaged cells and skin cancer.”
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell car- cinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, which is the most dangerous form of the disease. When looking for signs of skin cancer, McLaughlin recommends knowing your ABCDEs. These letters can make it easier to identify a melanoma growth sooner.
Asymmetrical — If a spot on the skin has an uneven shape. If you draw a line through the middle of a mole, the two sides should match. If they don’t, it could be a warning sign.
Border — A benign mole should have a smooth border, while a malignant growth will have notched edges. Color — If a mole has an uneven color, it could be
a sign of skin cancer.
Diameter — Benign moles are typically smaller than
the eraser of a pencil, but malignant growths can often start out small, too.
Evolving — Common moles look the same over time, but if a mole starts to change, as in size, color or shape, then it could be a sign the mole is developing into a ma- lignant growth.
Another concern related to sun exposure is sunburn. This is where the sun’s UVA an UVB rays pass through the top layer of your skin and cause damage. This causes the skin to become inflamed, which can be painful. Extended sun exposure without proper protection can even cause what’s known as sun poisoning. In these extreme cases, a person can suffer from blistering, fever, chills, headache and other symptoms.
McLaughlin said that to avoid sunburns, people should avoid exposure when the sun is at its highest point of the day, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Also, people should wear sunscreen with a sun-protection factor of at least 30. Sunscreen should be applied at least 15 minutes before going outside and should be reapplied every two hours. She also recommends new, specialized clothing that has built-in sun protection. There are even new de- tergents that can add sun protection to clothing. She said the sun-protective clothing is great for children.
“It’s one of the easiest things to do with them because they often don’t like thick creams, reapplications, and they don’t want to be still,” she said. “I like to use mineral sunscreens for kids because they are less allergenic, and they’re safe for kids. The same sunscreen rules still apply for kids as they do for adults; it’s just a little more difficult.”
For treatment of a sunburn, McLaughlin recommends aloe vera gel to cool the burnt skin, and ibuprofen for more severe burns.
Sunday, May 1, 2016 • An Advertising Supplement to the Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • What Women Want • 3SS
Skin cancer has become the most common form of cancer in the United States. Proper protection can help reduce the harmful effects of the sun’s radiation.
In the RED
Sun exposure can have lasting effects
Summer
Brides, come plan your florals now!
501.268.4741
1.888.706.2816 2703 E. Moore St. Searcy
featured business
SOUTHRIDGE VILLAGE
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
401 Southridge Parkway • Heber Springs 501-362-7023 www.southridgevillage.com
Are you looking for a retirement home where you have freedom of choice of care? Southridge Village Assisted Living Facilities in Heber Springs, Conway and Cabot, and River Valley Assisted Living in Russellville offer a community style of living where seniors can spend their days participating in leisure activities at a relaxed and peaceful pace.