Cool Healthy Gadget: Melanoma Bracelet

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

It's not always easy to remember how long you've been exposed to harmful UV rays, especially if you're passing time playing at the beach, taking in an outdoor workout or hike, or chasing after your kids at the park.

These I Will Reflect bracelets change color (from white to purple) when exposed to harmful UV rays. Plus, I think they're kind of cute too! For $5, you can't beat the price and proceeds go to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Get yours at SpaFinder.com.

Skin Cancer Rates Rising Among Young Women

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

There is a reason I talk about sunscreen and the dangers of tanning beds weekly. All that time young women have spent in the sun or indoor tanning is turning into a deadly mistake. More and more cases of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, are being diagnosed in young women. In 1973, for every 100,000 women, 5.5 cases of melanoma were confirmed. The rate increased to 9.4 cases in 1980, and to 13.9 cases in 2004. That's a shocking 50 percent increase since 1980.

According to the American Cancer Society, around 62,000 cases of melanoma are found in the US each year, and more than 8,400 people will end up dying from this disease. Apparently more public education campaigns are necessary to continue teaching people about the dangerous risks of UV exposure and how to prevent skin cancer.

The bottom line is any unprotected UV exposure is dangerous. So it's best to adopt the habit of wearing sunscreen everyday. If you're spending time outdoors, always reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. Wear clothes to protect your skin if possible, and try to avoid exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest and wear a melanoma bracelet too. Also, you're never too young to have your skin checked out by a dermatologist.

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