The Skinny on Sunscreen

    Dr. Garris Morgan has a dermatology practice in north Columbus.  He knows it’s the season when women, especially young women, focus on getting a tan.  But Morgan warns you can get burned in a matter of just ten or fifteen minutes in the sun.  “A lot of what you do as a teenager and as a young adult in your 20’s is going to show up as skin cancers if you are not careful in your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s,“ according to Morgan. 
    Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that forms in the skin cells that make pigment.  Dr. Morgan is seeing an increased incidence of melanoma in the Columbus area.  The statistics are sobering.  “Melanoma is now the number one cancer killer for people ages 20 to 40 years old.  And it’s the number two cancer killer for people ages 15 to 19,“ says Morgan.
    The doctor underscores that sunscreen is the best protection against skin cancer.  He advises that sunscreen be applied 20 to 30 minutes before heading out into the sun and reapplied about every two hours.
    Knowing which strength of sunscreen to use can be challenging.  The SPF or sun protection factors range from single digits into the 80’s.  Morgan explains, “Once you hit an SPF of around 40 or so, you’re getting about 98 to 99 percent protection.  Anything beyond that is diminishing returns.  If you are paying a lot more money for anything beyond a 40 you are kind of throwing your money away.“
    Morgan says the peak hours for sun exposure when it’s most damaging to your skin is between 10:30 in the morning and 2:00 in the afternoon.  He advises that’s a good time to take a break from the sun.
    “That deep, golden, dark tan that everybody thought was so healthy, we now know is actually not something that shows health.  It’s actually showing evidence of skin damage, and that’s something you can pay the price for later,“ says Morgan.
    A good source for more information about melanoma and skin cancer in general is the National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov.