The sun makes all of us feel good, yet too much may be harmful to health. Here are 5 commonly held myths about the sun:

Myth 1: Clouds block UV rays
Up to 70% of UV rays penetrate through on cloudy days leaving you vulnerable to sun damage from both UVA and UVB rays. This is true even during the winter, when UVA rays (responsible for skin aging) are prevalent.

Myth 2: One sunburn? Big deal.
Just one bad, blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life. Five or more sunburns also doubles the melanoma risk.

Myth 3: My age will protect me against skin cancer
The susceptibility to skin cancer is the same whatever your age. In fact, melanoma is the second most common cancer among people aged 15 to 34.

Myth 4: Doctors always find melanomas.
While it's true that your doctor can help to detect melanoma, you shouldn't rely on it as your only means of detection. Perform your own self examinations regularly and keep track of the appearance of new and existing moles.

Myth 5: I have dark skin so don't need to worry about skin cancer.
True, darker skin is less likely to suffer from sunburn, but it isn't immune to developing skin cancer. In fact, although skin cancer is less common amongst darker skinned individuals, when it does occur, it is typically more aggressive and diagnosed later, leading to more deaths.

Protect yourself against premature aging and skin cancer by being smart in the sun:

• Stay out of the sun during its peak hours between 10 am and 4 pm


• Cover up or seek shade when you can't avoid being outside


• Always wear a broad spectrum UVA and UVB blocking sunscreen to protect against sunburn and help skin looking young and healthy. Choose from our extensive selection including [Link Removed].

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed]
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