A sunburn won’t just ruin a fun day at the beach. It can also lead to serious, often life-threatening, health issues, like skin cancer.
Dr. John McCann, the director of oncology at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield and a medical oncologist at D’Amour Center for Cancer Care in Springfield, said taking simple precautions while outside can prevent devastating ailments.
“The evidence is pretty clear that preventing sunburns reduces solar damage that leads to common types of skin cancer,” he said.
McCann has practiced medicine since 1988 and specializes in skin cancers like melanoma, the deadliest kind. He said it is important to limit one’s sun exposure between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. He said dark-colored hats and sun-protective clothing can direct ultraviolet rays away from the skin.
He mentioned any mole or growth that changes size, shape or color should be examined by a dermatologist.
McCann also said sunscreen is crucial. He recommends a broad-spectrum brand that blocks skin-damaging ultraviolet rays. He advocates using sunscreen with 15 SPF or higher — with 30 SPF being perfect for hours at the beach or working outdoors. But don’t be fooled by brands that boast absurdly high SPFs, because anything above 50 is all the same, he said.
The doctor stressed the importance of buying “water resistant” or “very water resistant” sunscreen and reapplying it if you sweat a lot or go swimming. If you take his advice too late and contract a sunburn, McCann suggests staying hydrated and keeping a cool compress on it.