Protect Your Skin: Why You Need Sunscreen

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If you have skin, you can get skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. Melanoma, a third and more dangerous type of skin cancer, may be more common in whites, but is deadlier in blacks and Hispanics because it is more likely to go undetected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 65%–90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light or sunlight.

Having darker skin does provide a small benefit through the protective effects of skin pigmentation. In fact, some studies suggest that for the darkest skin tones, pigmentation cells provide natural sun protection. However, many African-Americans believe that means they are born with a natural immunity to skin diseases.

Black men are especially vulnerable since men seldom feel "manly" when rubbing creams or lotions on their bodies. But the sun doesn't discriminate. In 2005, a U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group study revealed that 53,792 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin--30,544 of them men and 23,248 of them women.

The good thing is, you can protect yourself. Whether you're headed to the beach, mowing grass on a sunny Saturday, or taking your kids to the zoo, wearing sunscreen can help prevent sun burn and skin cancers.

The American Academy of Dermatology's recommendation of a daily SPF of at least 15 should be the minimum. Mybrotha.COM suggests a daily SPF of 30.

The CDC recommends easy options for sun protection:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), when UV rays are strongest and do the most damage.
• Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.

So which sunscreens are best?

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