La Voz

As summer arrives, sun worshipers are stocking up on swimsuits and buying ready-made salon tans. Indeed, summer is a time for sunbathing and outdoor activities, but it's also the season for skin cancer.

People who refuse to put sunscreen on their faces because the oily substance blocks pores and generates more sweat, are doing themselves no favors.

The price for not protecting one's skin can be high. The UV radiation from the sun causes premature aging of the skin and can severely damage the immune system, making people vulnerable to disease and bacteria. And then there's the high possibility of getting skin cancer.

Of the three most common types of skin cancer - basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma - only the first two kinds are treatable. According to the FDA, about 1 million Americans suffer from skin cancer each year, and the cases of melanoma are rising to nearly 40,000. Among these, nearly 8,000 deaths are anticipated this year.

There are those who believe that skin cancer only occurs in old age. However, according to the University of Oregon Health Center report, melanoma sufferers are usually 39-years-old or younger.

Skin cancer has delayed effects. The symptoms don't show up upon the first sunburn; the ruined skin cells build up and linger for as long as 20 or 30 years. Tanning lamps and sun beds are not safe alternatives; the risk of getting skin cancer from these devices is higher at a young age, according to a report of the European Union's Scientific Committee.

In Britain, at least 100 people a year die from tanning lamps and sun beds, according to ABC News.

De Anza College Health Educator Licia Johnson advises students to use a sun block that protects both UVA and B. She also suggests that students wear loose clothing with long sleeves.

Next time, when you are tempted to bask under the sun, don't think of the resulting tan. Instead, think of the long term damage to your skin, and do something about it.

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