SunGuard Your Skin A Lesson About Sun Safety

Learning Objectives At the completion of this program, students will be able to:  Identify three negative effects of unprotected, excessive sun exposure  Identify three risk factors for skin cancer  Identify melanoma as the most dangerous form of skin cancer  Describe three personal behavior changes that will decrease their risk for skin cancer

The Structure of Your Skin  The skin is your body’s largest organ  It protects you from the sun and from infections  The skin has 3 layers: epidermis, dermis and subcutis  Skin color depends on the activity of the melanocytes in the epidermis Picture from (Sun Safe Colorado)

UV Radiation  Many types of rays come from the sun: Heat rays, visible light, and invisible ultraviolet light or UV radiation  Two kinds of UV radiation reach the earth: UVA rays – longer rays, penetrate skin deeply, and cause wrinkling and tanning UVB rays – shorter rays which cause burning of the skin Tanning and burning of the skin are signs of skin damage!

The Dangers of UV Radiation Overexposure to UV Radiation causes:  Sunburn  DNA Damage  Skin Cancer  Premature aging (wrinkles)  Cataracts  Immune system depression

Skin Cancer Facts  Skin cancer is the most common cancer but also the most preventable  Childhood sunburn is the most common cause of skin cancer  More than 3,000,000 skin cancer cases are diagnosed in the US each year  One in every two cancers is skin cancer  One in every five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime

What Causes Skin Cancer?  UV radiation causes increased activity in the melanocytes  This increased activity is the cause of freckles, tanned skin and sunburns  Sometimes this leads to changes in cell structure and function, causing cancer

Do You Know the Three Main Types of Skin Cancer?  Basal Cell Carcinoma 75% of all skin cancers  Squamous Cell Carcinoma 20% of all skin cancers  Melanoma 5% of all skin cancers but responsible for 75% of skin cancer deaths

Signs of Melanoma What are the ABCD’s?  Asymmetry  Border  Color  Diameter  CHANGE!

Who is at Risk for Skin Cancer?  Fair skin, burns easily  Light hair color  Blue or green eyes  Freckles  Many moles  Family history of skin cancer

When is UV Radiation Most Intense?  In the middle of the day (Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)  During the summer months  At higher altitudes  In regions of the earth closer to the equator Use the UV Index as a tool to help plan your outdoor activities.

 Avoid midday sun  Cover up with hats, clothing and sunglasses  Use sunscreen  Apply liberally and often  Avoid reflective surfaces  Seek shade when your shadow is shorter than you are  Avoid tanning beds Protective Measures

Tanning Beds are NOT Safe!  Studies show tanning beds are linked to skin cancer and premature aging  Indoor tanning lamps emit UVA and UVB radiation at levels that can be as much as 15 times stronger than the sun  Minors (under the age of 18) must have in-person, written parental consent before using a commercial tanning facility  If you must be tan, use a self tanner  You still must use sunscreen  Remember: There is no such thing as safe tan!

Visit the Program’s web site at

Visit SunGuard Man Online at and…  Play Games  Enter Contests  Watch The Adventures of SunGuard Man  Complete the SunGuard Man Treasure Hunt  Learn what you can do to keep your skin safe and healthy

Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program

SunGuard Your Skin Survey Part A – Choose the best answer by placing a check in the space. 1. A person with a tan looks attractive. ____ strongly agree ____ agree ____ no opinion ____disagree ____ strongly disagree 2. A person with a tan looks healthy. ____ strongly agree ____ agree ____ no opinion ____ disagree ____ strongly disagree 3. People who protect themselves from the sun are cool. ____ strongly agree ____ agree ____ no opinion ____ disagree ____ strongly disagree 4. How many painful sunburns did you have last summer? ____ none ____ 1 ____ 2 ____ 3 ____ more than three ____ I don’t remember 5. When you were out in the sun last summer, how often did you use sunscreen? ____ always ____ sometimes ____ I don’t remember ____ rarely ____ never 6. When you were out in the sun last summer and wore a hat for protection, what kind of hat did you wear? ____ wide brimmed hat ____ baseball cap ____ visor ____ other ____ I never wore a hat

SunGuard Your Skin Survey Part B - Fill in the blank with the letter next to the best answer. __7. The sun’s rays are the strongest, and should be avoided between the hours of a. 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. b. 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. c. 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. d. 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. 8. What is the minimum SPF (sun protection factor) a sunscreen should have to protect you adequately from the damaging effects of the sun? a. 15 b. 8 c. 30 d Which of the following is not a type of skin cancer? a. Squamous cell carcinoma b. Malignant melanoma c. Sickle cell carcinoma d. Basal cell carcinoma

SunGuard Your Skin Survey __10. All of the following are risk factors for skin cancer except a. Having dark hair b. Having light colored skin c. Being severely sunburned as a child d. Having family members who have had skin cancer 11. The substance in the skin that makes people tan is called a. Melatonin b. Myanmar c. Mandarin d. Melanin 12. Which of the following is not one of the ABCD’s of Melanoma? a. Border b. Diameter c. Atypical d. Asymmetrical e. Color 13. Which of the following is the best method of protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the sun? a. Wear light colored clothing b. Wear a baseball cap c. Use sunscreen with SPF 8 d. Seek shade

SunGuard Your Skin Survey Part C- True or False: Place a T or F in the blank to make the statement correct. 14. The sun’s rays are less intense at high altitudes. 15. People with a large number of moles on their bodies are at greater risk for developing malignant melanoma. 16. Sunscreen should be put on ½ hour before going outside and reapplied every four hours. ___17. People with naturally dark skin can develop skin cancer. ___18. A tan is a sign that the skin is damaged. ___19. Tanning salons and sun lamps are safe ways to get a tan.

SunGuard Your Skin Survey ___20. A wide brimmed hat gives more sun protection than a baseball cap. ___21. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays cause the skin to become sunburned. ___22. Wearing a hat and long sleeved shirts are good methods of protection from sunburn. ___ 23. You can get burned from reflection of the sun’s rays off sand, water, and snow. ___ 24. Protecting yourself from sunburns as an adolescent will help prevent skin cancer later in life. ___ 25. The outside layer of skin is called the dermis. 26.People can die from malignant melanoma.