It's warming up outside, and many of you may have already bought new bikinis, some trendy sandals and a pair of short shorts. But you should consider adding one more thing to your shopping list: sunscreen.
Skin cancer is the most common form of carcinoma, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. While dark skin tones have the benefit of built-in sun protection due to extra melanin, it's not enough to keep African Americans, Latinos and Asians safe from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The government agency says that skin can be damaged in as few as 15 minutes when under intense sun rays, but that you may not feel the burn for about 12 hours after you step inside. Also, skin can burn even in cloudy or cool weather, so be sure to apply SPF even if the weather isn't beach-worthy.
People who are at an increased risk of skin cancer include those with a personal or family history of the disease, individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors, people with sensitive skin as well as those who have light skin, hair or eye color.
In addition to staying indoors whenever possible, people should be sure to wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 and avoid tanning beds.
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