WASHINGTON — The Friday before Memorial Day is being called “Don’t Fry Day” by the American Cancer Society, which is launching the Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap campaign.
To help prevent developing melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer, the ACS says to:
- Slip on a shirt. Wear clothes to cover as much skin as possible. Some lightweight fabrics offer protection even when wet.
- Slop on sunscreen. The ACS recommends broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or greater that guards against UVA and UVB rays.
- Slap on a hat. Wide-brimmed hats should protect neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp.
- Wrap on sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.
Excess exposure to sunlight can cause melanoma to spring up in unexpected places.
“One of the most mysterious places, where sometimes you don’t catch it in time, is between your toes, believe it or not,” said Vivienne Stearns-Elliott, a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society.
“A lot of people don’t put the sunscreen on their feet, and they’re wearing sandals and their feet get sunburned.”
Bald heads and the tips of ears are other areas frequently neglected when it’s time to apply sunscreen.
“For the people whose hair is thinning, you can certainly put sunscreen on your head, too. It might feel funny, but it’s effective,” Stearns-Elliott said.
Melanoma is expected to kill more than 10,000 people in the U.S. this year, but it can be cured if caught early.
“This is no question a preventable form of skin cancer in many respects,” Dr. Adam Friedman, an associate professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, told WTOP’s Paula Wolfson earlier this month.
Friedman recommends regular skin checks at home and in a doctor’s office.
When checking suspect moles that evolve over time, think of the “A B C D E” of melanoma:
- A is for asymmetry — one side of the mole looks different than the other.
- B is for border — the mole border changes from a regular to a more scalloped look.
- C is for color — a darkening or lightening mole.
- D is for diameter — change in size.
- E sums it all up and stands for evolution.
The American Cancer Society predicts that thousands of area people will be diagnosed with melanoma this year: 111 in the District; 1,590 in Maryland; and 2,340 in Virginia.
WTOP’s Paula Wolfson contributed to this report.
