March is spring break season for college students across the country.
This is a time for students to relax and recharge for the final stretch of the school year. Often, this is also the first sun exposure many students have had in months, and, like it or not, most young adults will be looking to get tan quickly – even if it means suffering through a painful burn – without too much thought of the long-term risks of prolonged sun exposure.
This month we’ll be featuring helpful hints about staying sun safe. Typically, we engage in this discussion during the month of May – National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. With the rise in skin cancer among younger adults as well as accumulating evidence showing the connection between sun exposure and sun damage/skin cancer later in life, though, we thought this would be a perfect time to raise awareness.
Last year, a study was released that showed a strong correlation between text message reminders and application of sunscreen. Today’s teens and young adults are more connected than ever. Hoping to build on this, we’ve created a new Facebook fanpage and will be using Twitter during the month of March to remind people about the importance of being sun smart. This is also a place to share some of your stories about bad burns from the past, your motivations for staying sun smart, and tips on how you protect yourself from sun damage.
When all is said and done, I follow three rules when it comes to the sun:
If you are a student planning a spring break trip or have a child who will be taking time off to have some fun in the sun, we hope this information will be helpful, and I recommend you become a fan of our “Skinbreak” Facebook page.
Have a safe and fun spring break!
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