Skin Cancer Prevention Tips for Seniors
Learn more about the importance of implementing sun protection steps into one’s everyday routine:
Sunscreen – Sunscreen is a first line of defense that should be used daily. Even when outside, but not in the direct sun, sunscreen with an SPF of 15 should be applied liberally to all areas of exposed skin and reapplied every few hours, and/or after swimming, perspiring, or toweling off. Most sunscreen has an expiration date, and the shelf life is approximately three years.
Hat and Protective Clothing – Wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved pants and shirts can provide older adults with protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Tightly woven fabrics offer the best protection and darker colors may be more effective at blocking UV rays than lighter colored ones. Remember to protect ears and the back of the neck with sunscreen if a baseball cap is worn.
Sunglasses – To help protect eyes and the sensitive skin around them, wearing sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays is a must. Not only do they shield eyes from the sun, but also from glare, and sunglasses have been shown to reduce the risk of cataracts.
Shade – If you’re by a pool, at the beach, or having lunch on the patio, sitting under an umbrella, a tree, or other structure for shade is important. Not only will this provide protection from the sun’s damaging rays, but it will also help keep you cooler. Sunscreen and/or protective clothing should still be worn in the shade, and remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
In addition to including these skin cancer prevention tips into one’s daily routine, it’s important for older adults to conduct routine skin examinations and to visit a dermatologist at least once per year for a thorough examination of the skin.
Having a dermatologist perform a skin exam is especially important if you or a senior loved one has mobility and flexibility issues, so that difficult to see areas of the skin are not overlooked. A family caregiver can also be enlisted to help. By taking proactive measures, skin cancer or suspected skin cancer can be caught and treated early. To perform a skin self-exam, the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends the following steps:
- Use a full-length mirror to examine the front, back, and each side, with arms raised.
- Examine underarms, forearms and palms.
- Look at legs, between toes, and at the soles of the feet.
- Use a handheld mirror to examine the back of the neck and scalp.
- Use a handheld mirror to look at the back and buttocks.
Why Choose LightSpring Home Care?
Our mission is to enhance the lives of individuals by giving them the best home care possible.
Our home care professionals in Philadelphia look beyond the basic needs of our clients to become advocates for their physical and emotional well-being. Whether you are faced with a new diagnosis, recent surgery, or long-term health challenge, the care we provide is rooted in our core values.
Our senior care services allow our elderly clients to maintain as much independence as possible by providing the appropriate in-home assistance and companionship, lifting the spirits of both the elderly and the family caregivers.
LightSpring Home Care provides Home Care Services in the Philadelphia and surrounding cities.
Call us at 215-935-6321
