Riverside Healthcare | The Journey | Summer 2021

Summer 2021 7 Use plenty of sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Apply it to exposed skin about 15 minutes before you head outside, and reapply it at least every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Check with your child’s doctor before putting sunscreen on a baby younger than 6 months old. Young or old. Wrinkled or smooth. Freckled or plain. No matter what condition their skin is in, all members of your family need sun protection. “Regular sunscreen use decreases our risk of skin cancer by about 40%,” says Karie Prokop, PA-C, an advanced practice provider at Riverside’s Wilmington clinic. “I recommend that my patients have sunscreen in their car, bag or purse so they are never without it!” So have a sun safety plan ready for the whole family. Start with these three steps from the American Academy of Dermatology and other experts. Shun the sun. Try to stay out of it during the most intense hours of sunlight, about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you do go outside, cover up with long sleeves, long pants and a wide- brimmed hat. Keep eyes under wraps. Ultraviolet (UV ) light can damage eyes and increase the chance of cataracts developing later in life. Make sure everyone in the family has a pair of sunglasses that block 100% of UV light. That includes young kids, whose sunglasses should be the real deal—not toy sunglasses. It looks different from others on your body or is changing. EVOLVING The mole or spot is larger than a pencil eraser. (Can be smaller.) DIAMETER The color changes from one area to another. COLOR It has an irregular or undefined border. BORDER Half of the mole or spot is unlike the other half. ASYMMETRY Check it out See your primary care provider (PCP) right away if you notice any signs of melanoma (shown at right). Need a provider? Find a PCP and request an appointment at RiversideHealthcare.org/providers . Protect the whole family from the Sun Karie Prokop, PA-C Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. These ABCDEs can help you tell if you should see a doctor about a mole or spot. THE ABCDEs of melanoma