St. Mary’s County Health Department knows that in Southern Maryland, the sun is hard to avoid. As part of our Wellness and Health Promotion Program, we are working to increase awareness of how you can protect yourself from the sun year round and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Please call the health department to request a display or presentation for your school, business, organization or group function.
Did you know?
Skin cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in the United States. Skin cancer can result from damage to DNA in skin cells. Much of this damage is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation found in sunlight and in tanning beds and commercial tanning lamps. Tanning beds deliver high doses of ultraviolet radiation, making them especially harmful.
Risk factors include:
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Light skin color, hair color, or eye color
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Family history of skin cancer
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Personal history of skin cancer
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Chronic exposure to the sun through work or recreational activities
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History of sunburns early in life
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Certain types of moles, or a large number of moles
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Freckles, which indicate sun sensitivity and sun damage
Signs of Skin Cancer: ABCDE Rule
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for asymmetry: a mole that when divided in half doesn’t look the same way
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for border: a mole with edges that are blurry or jagged
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for color: changes in color, darkening, spreading of color, loss of color, or appearance of multiple colors
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for diameter: a mole larger than ¼ inch in diameter
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for elevation: a mole that is raised
Protect Yourself!
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Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going out in the sun. Choose a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Make sure you rub in the sunscreen on your arms, legs, front, back and face. Don’t forget the tops of your ears! Once your outside remember to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours.
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Cover up with hats and shirts. Choose hats that protect your face, scalp, ears and neck. Wear shirts that are made of tightly woven fabrics that you can’t see through when you hold up to the light.
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Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses block UV rays and the surrounding tender skin.
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Wear lip balm. Choose lip balm with SPF in it to protect your lips from sunburn.
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Avoid tanning beds. They are not a safe alternative to the natural sun!
Staff Contact:
Jane Dodds, RN 
301-475-4074
Links: