Slip, Slop, Slap…and Wrap!

Can you believe that Friday is the first day of SUMMER! Goodness, where has the time gone?

Here in Southwest Louisiana, our Spring said hello and goodbye within the time frame of a few weeks. It feels as if we went from Winter straight through to Summer without warning.

If you followed my blog the past few weeks, I’m sure you noticed the stories of a horrific sunburn that I obtained while staining the deck in my backyard. I’m ashamed to say that I’m an Oncology nurse and I 100% know better. So, consider this your warning from me, the Oncology Nurse who doesn’t always follow the rules…ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN!

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 hour in the sun wearing SPF 30 sunscreen is the same as spending 2 minutes totally unprotected.

The American Cancer Society also coined a cute phrase that might be helpful to remember when out in the sun for a length of time – “Slip! Slop! Slap!… and Wrap”!

• Slip on a shirt.
• Slop on sunscreen.
• Slap on a hat.
• Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them.

While all four of these items are important individually, when used together they will provide optimal protection from the sun’s harmful UV Rays. Source: cancer.org

The most common form of cancer in the US is Skin Cancer and it accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. Risk factors for skin cancer (Melanoma and Non-Melanoma type) include:

• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation (sunlight or tanning booths)
• Pale complexion (difficulty tanning, easily sunburned, natural red or blond hair color)
• Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
• You or other members of your family have had skin cancers
• Multiple or unusual moles
• Severe sunburns in the past
  Source: cancer.org

I’ve had the chance to speak with patients being treated for skin cancer over the past few years and each one has told me the SAME thing…“I never wore sunscreen and I used to spend HOURS in the sun as a child”…

While following the ACS Guidelines will help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, it is not a 100% guarantee. ALWAYS take extra precaution when venturing out in the sun. Many companies offer a “Sport” based sunscreen but when choosing sunscreen, read the bottle. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is best and you should slather sunscreen on at least 20 minutes before you head out so that your skin has time to absorb the lotion. Also, running early in the morning will help prevent exposure.

Next time you are going for a mid-day run or even when having a fun day outdoors, remember
“Slip! Slop! Slap!… and Wrap”!

Do you wear sunscreen? I sometimes forget to apply before heading out the door – do you have any tricks that help you remember?

Anyone remember this “song”? I’m listening to the lyrics now and I realize WOW he had some good advice!