Summer is coming. But you know that already because it’s May and it may already feel like summer.
As we enter May, there’s one important thing you should do: Protect your skin. As the temperatures rise and the sun becomes more intense, it’s very important to establish good habits and protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.
If you’re already in protection mode, good for you. But that’s only half of the adult population that takes those protective steps.
Less than half of U.S. adults use sunscreen or wear clothes to protect their skin from the sun, statistics show. Protecting yourself from the sun is vital if you’re outside for more than an hour.
Skin cancer afflicts more than 5 million people in the U.S. every year. The costs of the physical and mental effects are high, but so is the financial cost of $8.1 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Keep in mind that the risk of skin cancer increases the older you get.
U.S. Skin Cancer Statistics
Most cases of skin cancer occur in people age 65 and older, according to the CDC. Skin cancer rates also increase as a risk as people age.
Skin cancer rates take a jump in people as they hit 60 years of age. They keep increasing before finally leveling off after the age of 85.
Prolonged or excessive exposure to the sun’s harmful rays, called ultraviolet (UV) rays, are the biggest risk factor for most skin cancers. But you can also help yourself in avoiding sunburns and lowering your risk of getting skin cancer with proper sun protection.
It’s Easy to Protect Yourself
Here are key considerations from the CDC to help you understand how to stay safe in the sun:
- Stick to shady places
- Use sunscreen
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat
- Wear clothing to your ankles
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt
The statistics tell us that people aren’t helping themselves when it comes to sun protection. According to the CDC, about 15% of older adults and 8% of sun-sensitive older adults regularly use all five of these sun protection strategies. A sun-sensitive adult is someone who gets a sunburn after being in the sun for an hour without sun protection.
Every year, more than 1 in 10 older adults get a sunburn. For sun-sensitive people in this age group, it rises to 20% of people who get sunburns.
As you can see, however, protecting yourself from UV rays is quite easy. From clothing, to sunscreen, to hats, to staying in the shade, and wearing a long-sleeve shirt, protect yourself so you don’t get a sunburn.
A CARING-FIRST ENVIRONMENT
Senior living communities like Auburn Hill Senior Living are precisely that—a community. Residents become friends and even family, and a caring team is there to help them maintain their quality of life.
At Auburn Hill Senior Living, we offer both Assisted Living and Memory Care and we care with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Residents first and Teamwork. We like to call it Caring with H.E.A.R.T.™!
If you believe a senior living community would benefit your loved one, get in touch with us. Schedule a tour or download a brochure today!