The Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Countway Library of Medicine at Harvard Medical School are joining forces to help members and visitors of the Longwood Medical Area community reduce their risk of skin cancer by hosting two FREE sunscreen stations on campus. Find the dispensers in the Countway Courtyard and in the Countway Community Garden throughout the summer and fall.
Help yourself to a generous dose of SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen before enjoying your lunch al fresco, walking to your next class or meeting, or tending to your plants in the garden.
We embrace sound environmental stewardship as an important tenant of public health. The sunscreen, which is made in the USA and distributed by Sunstation USA, is 100% all-natural, eco-friendly, and even reef-safe!
How much sunscreen should you use – and when?
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends some helpful ways to measure the amount of sunscreen to adequately protect yourself from UV radiation and ensure that you stay protected.
Use the following guides to distribute the appropriate amount of sunscreen:
· approximately two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin;
· a shot glass (two tablespoons) full of sunscreen to the exposed areas of the face and body; and
· a nickel-sized dollop to the face.
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to exposure. Re-apply every 2 hours – or more frequently if you’re swimming, sweating, or wiping your skin off with a towel.
Who needs sunscreen, and when? Experts from the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society advise that sunscreen is essential for everyone over 6 months of age. Having dark skin or a tan does not protect you from the dangers of UV radiation exposure or the risks of skin cancer.
Use sunscreen even on cloudy days, in each season of the year. In short, wear sunscreen every day!
Why is sunscreen so important? Some facts about sun exposure and skin cancer from the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society underscore the importance of protecting yourself from UV exposure.
· Quite simply, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen and exposure to UV rays increases your risk for all types of skin cancer. A “healthy tan” does not exist.
· More than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the United States. More than two people die of the disease every hour. 1
· Most skin cancer cases and deaths are caused by exposure to UV radiation , and thus are potentially preventable. 2
Sunscreen reduces your risk of skin cancer!
One study found that regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent, when used as directed.3
Is sunscreen enough protection in the sun? No! The most effective strategy for sun safety, according to both the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society, includes:
· covering your body with clothing (especially UPF clothing), hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses;
· staying in the shade;
· avoiding the outdoors between 10am – 4pm; and
· staying mindful of UV exposure through the windows of cars, buses, trains, and planes.
Check out this Sun Protection Guide from the Skin Cancer Foundation for more detailed information about protecting yourself from UV radiation. Click here for an ingredients list and click here for a product safety data sheet. To find out more how sun exposure and tanning beds increase your risk of cancer, visit the Cancer FactFinder, a public education tool sponsored by the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention that conveys the latest scientific findings about a variety of cancer-related topics in easy-to-understand language. The Cancer FactFinder is now available in: Arabic, Mandarin, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
We welcome your feedback! To submit questions or comments about the Skin Cancer Prevention Initiative, contact Susan Legere, Sr. Program Manager at the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention at slegere@hsph.harvard.edu or Meredith Solomon, Manager of Outreach & Public Services at Countway Library of Medicine at meredith_solomon@hms.harvard.edu.