If you live here in Florida, chances are you enjoy time spent outdoors. Florida is a very outdoor-oriented state as it has the benefit of beautiful year-round weather. Yes, we have winter, but it is generally mild. And, yes, we have hurricanes, but every state has its share of natural weather phenomena – earthquakes, wildfires, etc. Overall, our weather here is pretty hard to beat. However, without proper protection, your skin will pay a high price for your fun in the sun.
SUN DAMAGE
The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays that cause damage to our delicate skin. People often think of a tan as a positive experience with the sun and a sunburn as a negative experience. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Both tans and sunburns are forms of skin damage. Any change in the color of your skin is your skin’s attempt to fend off further damage.
In addition to coloring your skin, sun damage is also a cause of wrinkles, freckles, and fine lines. Of course, the natural aging process will result in fine lines and wrinkles eventually, but the sun will aid the process exponentially! You can’t name anyone who wants to look 80 when they’re 40!
Most importantly, sun damage can lead to skin cancer. The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma can be fatal. Florida is only behind Hawaii in the highest rate of melanoma cases in the United States. It is imperative that, as a Florida resident, you visit a dermatologist annually to get checked for skin cancer. If you see any changes in your skin or moles prior to your next dermatology appointment, call the office immediately and set up an appointment as soon as possible. Don’t wait for your next routine appointment. Melanoma can be aggressive, and you don’t want to give it time to grow.
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