Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and Health Commissioner Dr. Alicia Pointer are recognizing UV Awareness Month and encourage residents to protect themselves and their families while enjoying outdoor activities in the summertime, and throughout the year.
“Sunny days can expose us to harmful skin issues if we do not protect ourselves,” Neuhaus said. “It’s important to safeguard our skin from the sun’s Ultraviolet (UV) rays which is the main cause of skin cancer. I encourage residents and their families to become educated on this issue and to take whatever precautions necessary to protect themselves during the summer months and beyond.”
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. and there are three major kinds: Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma and Melanoma, the deadliest form. Melanoma is less common than some other types of skin cancer, but it is more likely to grow and spread.
Approximately 96,480 new melanomas will be diagnosed (about 57,220 in men and 39,260 in women) in the U.S. this year and 7,320 people are expected to die of melanoma (about 4,740 men and 2,490 women). According to the American Cancer Society, the rates of melanoma have been rising for the last 30 years.
UV damage can also cause wrinkles, blotchy skin, and eye problems like cataracts. Anyone can get skin cancer, but the risk is greatest for people with white or light-colored skin with freckles, blonde or red hair and blue or green eyes.
Dr. Pointer advises residents that they can help prevent skin cancer and reduce the risk of UV damage by taking these precautions:
- Avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Always wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 to 50.
- Wear lip protection with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Reapply sunscreen every 1-2 hours, especially after swimming, sweating or exercise.
- Wear protective clothing when in the sun. This may include a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, a light long-sleeve shirt or long pants.
- Check your skin regularly for changes.
“We all need to protect ourselves when we are in the sun,” Pointer said. “Orange County residents should take steps to protect their skin year-round and especially in the summer. There are simple ways to help reduce the risk of skin cancer and enjoy the outdoors safely.”
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
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