Cheerleaders: Enjoy the sun at camp but…be careful!
Who doesn’t love the sun? Summer is all about spending time in the sun – especially for those of you who live in northern climates. For cheerleaders lucky enough to attend camp this summer, you will be outside a good bit. Do I need to remind you to wear sun screen?
Skin cancer is on the rise especially in young people. You may think it’s somethng that only happens to older folks but that is increasingly not true. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and is the second most common cancer in women aged 20 to 29! If not caught in its earliest stage, melanoma can easily spread to other parts of the body.
Tanning and use of tanning beds are thought to be responsible for the rise in skin cancer in young people. There is a misconception that tanning beds are safe. You need to be aware of the dangers of UV radiation and understand that just because you don’t see the damage right away, doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact, recent studies show there is a 75% higher risk of melanoma in individuals who started using tanning beds before the age of 35. In addition, tanning beds accelerate aging of the skin. (So if you think you look nicer with a tan, consider how you’ll look at age 40 with all those wrinkles and sagging skin!)
Here is some scary news – one American dies of melanoma almost every hour.
What to do? If you’re going to go out in the sun, you should take precautions to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful ultra violet rays.
- Use sunscreen daily no matter what your skin type or how your body reacts to the sun.
- Choose a proper sunscreen that blocks ultraviolet (UV) A and B rays and has a SPF of at least 30.
- Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day because 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays are still penetrating the skin.
- Avoid sun exposure during peak hours of intensity from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please – have fun but take care of yourself!
Tags: cheerleader, cheerleaders, Cheerleading, Cheerleading camp