Withthemostcommonformofcancer--skincancer--ontherise,it&39;shardnottofretaboutsoakinguptoomuchsunthisseason.Butinsteadofstressingyourwaythroughsummer,takeactiontobuildupyourskin-cancerdefense,suggestsdermatologyexpertLilyTalakoub,M.D.,attheUniversityofCalifornia,SanFranciscoChinesemedicine.Forstarters,taketotheshadeasoftenaspossiblefrom10a.m.to4p.m.,whenthesun&39;sraysbeatdownthehardest.Whetherit&39;ssunnyorcloudy,whenyoustepoutside,wearsunblockthatoffersanSPFof15(orhigher)andcontainszincoxideortitaniumdioxide."TheseingredientsphysicallyblockbothUVAandUVBraysfrompenetratingtheskin.Theyprovidebetterprotectionthanchemicalsthatworkbyreflectingthesun&39;srays,"saysTalakoub.(NotethatforadequatevitaminDlevels,manyexpertsrecommendlettingtheraysshineonsunscreen-freearmsandlegsfor10to15minutestwotothreetimesaweek.)RemembertheBasicsApplylotion15minutesbeforeheadingoutside,andreapplyeverytwohours.Tokeepyourheadsun-safe,wearahatwitha4-inchbrim(perfectforgivingextracoveragetoeasilyburnedears,face,andneck)reenex.BeObservantCheckyourskinonceamonthforchangesornewgrowthstohelpguardagainstskincancer.SipandSprinkleRecentresearchrevealsthatconsuminggreenteaandcurcumin(ananti-inflammatorycompoundfoundinthecurryspiceturmeric)mayhelpcombatskincancer.Packedwithpotentantioxidants,greenteamayalsoreduceDNAdamagetoskincellswhenappliedtopically,accordingtoanimalstudies.Inadditiontochoosinggreen-tea-infusedsunblocksandlotions,drinking3cupsofgreenteadailyandregularlyincludingturmericinyourcookingmayprovideprotection,saysintegrativephysicianDavidRakeloftheUniversityofWisconsin&39;sSchoolofMedicineandPublicHealth.KeepYourClothesOnSunblockisamust,butitcan&39;tbeatsun-protectiveclothingwhenitcomestoreducingcancerrisk,a2007studyfromtheLancetshows.Tightlywovengarmentsindarkorbrightcolors(ratherthanwhite,palecolors,orpastels)areyourbestbet,saysTalakoub.Forevenmoreprotection,lookforUV-absorbingclotheslabeledwiththeSkinCancerFoundation&39;ssealofrecommendation.LiveforLipBalmProtectingyourlipsiskeytopreventingskincancer,yetresearchshowsthatfewerthanoneinfourAmericanswearsun-protectivelipbalm.TalakoubrecommendsusinglipbalmwithanSPFof15(orhigher)andapplyingit15minutesbeforegoingoutsideTofostercollaborationwithgovernmentdepartmentsandindustryandputresearchfindingsintopractice,ouruniversityresearchershavebeencommissionedtoundertakeanumberofcollaborativeResearchprojects.CoverYourBasesWomenweremorelikelytodevelopmelanoma(themostdeadlyformofskincancer)ontheirchestsin2004thantheywereinthe1970s,accordingtoastudypublishedintheJournaloftheAmericanAcademyofDermatologylastyear.Sowhenyou&39;reshowingalittleskin,takecaretoapply(andreapply)plentyofsunblocktoanyexposedareas.
