Sun Safety Tips:
Avoid sun exposure during peak hours of ultraviolet radiation between 10:00am and 4:00pm
Seek shade whenever available
Do not use tanning beds or other forms of artificial ultraviolet light
Use protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses when outdoors
Apply a "broad spectrum sunscreen" which includes coverage for both UVA and UVB with a sun-protection factor (SPF) greater than 30
Make sure you apply enough sunscreen -- a handful to cover the entire body
You must re-apply at least every 2 hours, after significant sweating or swimming -- consider looking for sunscreens that are "water resistant” which makes the sunscreen more likely to stay on wet or sweaty skin longer. Water resistance lasts either 40 or 80 minutes.
Check your skin regularly for anything new, growing, changing, or bleeding
See a board-certified dermatologist for a full body skin examination (FBSE)
If you have atypical moles or a family history of skin cancer, you should see a board certified dermatologist for a FBSE at least once a year
If you have a history of skin cancer, you should have a whole body skin examination every 6 months for two years, then annually for the rest of your life
If you have a history of multiple skin cancers or pre-cancers, you may need to see your dermatologist more frequently, such as every 3 months
Dr. Wysong's Sun Safety Outreach
Dr. Wysong is actively engaged in sun safety awareness and skin cancer prevention programs. While at Stanford, she co-founded SUNSPORT and while at USC teamed up with Dr. Myles Cockburn, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and founder of SunSmart to form SunSmart Athletes -- an innovative team approach to reducing overall sun exposure for NCAA athletes, coaches, and fans.
After publishing her research in sun safety in athletes, Dr. Wysong was approached by the NCAA to help author the first Sports Sun Safety Guidelines for the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook. In addition to her work with USC SunSmart Athletes, she is actively involved in the American Academy of Dermatology SPOTme skin cancer screenings, the Women's Dermatologic Society Play it Safe in the Sun campaign, and USC Department of Dermatology sun safety events.
Link to Research Study on Sun Safety in Athletes