The skin cancers are becoming more frequent. Worse, the incidence of melanoma, the form of skin cancer the rarest but most severe double every 10 years for people with white skin!

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Preventing cancer peauPourquoi this alarming progression? Because, unlike the previous centuries, where it is carefully protected from the sun, we expose ourselves too much solar radiation since the 1930s. However, the ultraviolet UVA and UVB present in sunlight is harmful to the skin.

The main risk factors

Studies have shown particularly dangerous elements:

* Sunburn taken in childhood, before age 15 years;
* The intermittent nature of exposure. The round white skin in winter and summer tanned skin increases the impact of UVA and UVB rays;
* The lamp or tanning in sunbeds under ultraviolet UVA.

To reduce the risk of skin cancer, prevention messages are to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight during hot hours – 11 am to 16 pm – to be especially watchful for children and adolescents and finally to abandon the artificial tanning by UVA.

How to use sunscreen?

Sunscreens are also required to reduce the cumulative dose of sunlight. Three conditions, however.

* You must choose filters for UVB and UVA: we now know that UVA is just as dangerous as UVB;
* Should be changed frequently applied without skimping on quantity;
* Finally, and above all must not take the opportunity to stay longer in the sun on the pretext that they feel protected. Sunscreens are not a passport to carelessness.

It remains to supplement these precautions do not hesitate, especially for children during the hot hours, wearing a tee-shirt and cap. In Australia, one of the most endangered in the world by the skin cancer, prudence requires the double cap with a visor for the front face, for behind the neck.