Here Comes the

Sun!

May is melanoma and skin

cancer detection month.
Check out this months
newsletter to learn more!

May 2015

Inside
What is Melanoma?...........Page 1
The A B C D E s.Page 1
Sunscreen Information..Page 2

Facts
~Melanoma kills an
estimated 9,940 people in the
U.S. annually
~Melanoma is the most
deadly form of skin cancer
~More than 135,000 new
cases of Melanoma in the
U.S. are diagnosed each year
~Nearly 42, 670 males and
31,200 women are diagnosed
with Melanoma each year
~86 percent of Melanoma
cases are caused by UV
radiation from the sun
~Melanoma if recognized
early, can be cured!

Delaware County Health

Department

What is Melanoma?
~ Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer,
causing cancerous growths to develop when unrepaired
DNA damage the skin cells.
~ Is caused by intense UV radiation from the sun
(sunburn) or tanning beds which trigger genetic defects
that lead skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant
tumors.
~ Tumors originate in the pigment- producing melanocytes
in the basal layer of the epidermis.
~ Melanomas often resemble moles; some even develop
from moles.
~ The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they
can be skin colored, pink, red, purple, blue, or white.
Be on the lookout for any unusual marks on the skin.

Be SunSmart From the Cancer Council

May 2015

Remember to Wear Sunscreen

This Summer!

Important
Dates in May:
Dont Fry Day-

The Friday before

Memorial Day! -May

22nd

Encourage sun
safety awareness.
Protect your skin
today and everyday!

Free Skin Cancer

Screenings - May
28th from 6pm
8pm
Where: IU Health
Ball Memorial
Cancer Center
Call to register @
765.741.1073

~ Sunscreen is made to help prevent the suns UV radiation

from reaching the skin. There are two different forms of UV
radiation, UVA and UVB both damage the skin and increase
your risk of skin cancer. UVB is most responsible for
sunburn. Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher does a great
job of protecting against UVB radiation on the skin. SPF or
Sun Protection Factor is a measure of sunscreens ability to
prevent UVB from damaging the skin.

How Does Sunscreen Work?

~It takes about 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start
getting red.
~If you use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15, theoretically it
prevents reddening of the skin 15 times longer Or 5 hours.

Look for
~The seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer
Foundation. This seal is granted to skin protection products
that have been reviewed and meet the
criteria of an independent Photobiology
Committee. It is a symbol of safe and
effective sun protection.
~ Check out the link below to take a short
quiz to determine your Fitzpatrick Skin
Type and risk of UV exposure. The quiz
measures a combination of your genetic
disposition and reaction to sun exposure to determine your
skin type ranging from very fair to very dark.
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/are-you-atrisk/fitzpatrick-skin-quiz
~Information from this newsletter was found at:
http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancerinformation/melanoma