Health professionals encourage everyone to wear sunscreen to help protect skin from sun damage.

The Friday before Memorial Day — this year, May 27 — is known as Don’t Fry Day. This day is to emphasize awareness of the importance of sun protection.

Here are some facts and information to help you learn more about keeping yourself safe from the sun’s damaging effects.

According to the American Cancer Society, each year more than 2 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer, the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States. It is estimated that by age 65, 50 percent of people will have had at least one skin cancer. Another 60,000 people are diagnosed yearly with melanoma, a more serious cancer. Both of these cancers have a strong causal link to excess sun exposure.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital is a major sponsor of WellCommons.

In addition to these two cancers, cumulative unprotected sun exposure can cause cataracts in the eye, immune system deficits and premature skin aging and damage. Wrinkling, loss of skin elasticity, age spots and other skin lesions are all results of too much sun.

“Slip, Slap, Slop and Wrap” is a public health education campaign originally developed in Australia in 1981 and adopted by the American Cancer Society a few years ago.

Slip: Protect as much skin as possible with darker colored and tightly woven clothing. When out in the sun, wear long- sleeved shirts, long pants and footwear other than sandals. Light colored clothing is not considered sun-protective. Special clothing that contains UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) is especially good for those who work or play outdoors in the sun for long periods.

Slop: Wear sunscreen daily; however, know that no sunscreen will provide complete protection from the sun’s rays. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects against both UVA and UVB rays) with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. SPF 30 provides even more protection, but there is little protective difference between SPF 30 and 50. Use at least 1 ounce (about a shot glass full) per application for adults and reapply every two hours. Always shake the bottle well before applying. Providing even more sun protection for children and adults are sunblock preparations such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or red pet vet.

If you are swimming, drying off with a towel after swimming or even sweating, reapply sunscreen again after these activities. Sunscreen does outdate and should be replaced by expiry date. A good rule of thumb is to replace it yearly on Don’t Fry Day. In addition, select lip balm and cosmetics with sun protection factor.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies under six months out of the sun and protecting them with shade, a UPF umbrella and clothing. At age six months, sunscreen designed for children may be used. It is still always best to limit sun exposure.

Slap: Always wear a tightly woven hat that protects your entire head, including face, scalp, ears and neck. A hat with a 2- to 3-inch brim all around or even a special shade cap is recommended. Many hats are now available with UPF. Baseball and straw hats are not considered sun protective.

Wrap: Wear UV blocking sunglasses. Look for products that block 99 percent to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Children need child-sized versions of these same glasses. Toy sunglasses are not sun protective.

Other tips to remember:

• Use the shade as much as possible to protect yourself

• Stay out of the sun where possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Avoid the serious skin damage created by tanning beds or lamps

• Inspect your skin regularly for change in skin lesions, freckles and moles. Have your doctor check your skin at your yearly health physical for areas that might be of concern.

— Aynsley Anderson Sosinski, MA, RN, is Community Education Coordinator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, a major sponsor of WellCommons. She is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach. She can be reached at aynsley.anderson@lmh.org.