Sunblock or bronzed skin: Will you become the next skin cancer statistic?

It’s inevitable. Every year as summer approaches dire warnings about the dangers of the sun begin. Warnings are on the news, in the newspaper, and in magazine articles. You become overloaded with warnings and eventually just tune them out. You already know that sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. You know that you have to wear sunscreen at the beach and pool and should avoid tanning beds. You figure that as long as you take precautions and avoid consistent exposure, you should be safe. After all, you do wear sun block on the days you spend at the beach.

The hazards caused by sun exposure are not just limited to specific seasons or certain outings. Not only are you exposed to the sun while at the beach or around a pool. You are exposed to the sun every time you leave your house, regardless of the season. Your skin is even being affected by sun exposure when you drive in your car. Experts recommend that you use a sun-block with an SPF 30 or above every day. Sun-block should be part of your daily skin routine. If you are not wearing sun-block daily, you are significantly increasing your risk of skin cancer.

The numbers of skin cancer cases have increased significantly every year. Skin cancer is on the rise and everyone is at risk. Any coloring of the skin from sun exposure is the result of skin damage. Damage to the skin cells can cause the cells to become cancerous. And many forms of skin cancer, if not caught very early, are deadly. People in their early twenties are being diagnosed with skin cancer. People as young as 29 years old are dying of skin cancer.

The lure of bronzed skin is not worth dying for, is it? There is a reason that every year all the news mediums flood the public with sun warnings. The rise in the number of skin cancer cases each year alerts officials, too many people are not listening. Could this really mean that people are willing to gamble with their health and lives for cosmetic reasons. Will you listen or will you wait until it is too late?