Sun protection

Sun protection

Alphabet soup

Do letters like UPF and UV sound like alphabet soup? Here’s a glossary of skin-protection terms:

ABCDs of melanoma: Look for these warning signals during your monthly skin cancer self-exams. “A” is for Asymmetry. Draw an imaginary line through your mole. Do both sides look alike? If not, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you see a dermatologist. “B” is for Border. Check the outside edge of your mole. Are its edges sharp and easy to distinguish from the surrounding skin? If the edges look ragged or fuzzy, then schedule a trip to the dermatologist. “C” is for Color. Examine the color of your mole. Is it the same all over or does it vary in shade, from dark brown to red or blue? If it does, then visit a dermatologist. And “D” stands for Difference. Have any of your moles changed recently in size, shape or color? Have they suddenly become itchy? Does one look markedly different from the others? If so, then make an appointment with a dermatologist.

UVR (ultraviolet radiation) comprises long-wave (UVA) and short-wave (UVB) rays. Both can penetrate glass and clothing. Their effects are cumulative, leading to skin cancer, skin aging and eye damage.

UV Index. Developed by the National Weather Service and Environmental Protection Agency to forecast the expected risk of overexposure to the sun. Intensity levels vary from 1 to 11+ with the higher numbers indicating increased risk. A daily index by ZIP code is available at the SunWise Web site: www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.

SPF or Sun Protection Factor numbers rate the protection provided by the various sunscreens. The higher the SPF number, the greater the degree of protection.

Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is the clothing equivalent to the SPF numbers for sunscreens. The numbers can run from 0 to 50+. The higher the number, the greater the degree of protection. Testing indicates that a UPF 30-rated fabric that blocks or absorbs 29 of 30 units of ultraviolet radiation blocks 96.7 percent of the UV striking it.

Source: Associated Press