• Merit Health Network | Careers

Merit Health
  • Quick Links
    • Find a Doctor
    • Services
      • Services

        • View All Services
        • Audiology Services
        • Bariatric Weight Loss Services
        • Behavioral Health
        • Breast Care
        • Cancer Care
        • Critical Care Medicine
        • Diagnostic Imaging
        • Digestive Health
        • Ear, Nose & Throat Care
        • Emergency Services
        • Eye Care
        • Family Medicine
        • Geriatric Services
        • Heart Care
        • Infectious Disease Care
        • Infusion Services
        • Joint Replacement
        • Kidney Disorders
        • Laboratory Services
        • Maternity Care
        • Men's Health
        • Neonatal Intensive Care
        • Neurology
        • Orthopedic Services
        • Pain Management
        • Palliative Care
        • Pediatric Care
        • Pharmacy
        • Primary Care
        • Rehabilitation Services
        • Respiratory Care
        • Rheumatology
        • Sleep Medicine
        • Surgical Services
        • Urology
        • Wellness Services
        • Women's Health
        • Wound Care
          • Patients & Visitors
            • For Patients

              • Patients & Visitors
              • DAISY Award Nominations
              • Events
              • Financial Information
              • Health Library
              • Online Scheduling
              • Patient Portal
                • Careers
                • Locations
                  • Hospitals
                  • Other Merit Health Locations
                • About
                  • About

                    • About Us
                    • Careers
                    • Community Benefits
                    • Contact Us
                    • Newsroom
                    • Quality & Safety
                      • mymerithealth.com
                      • Merit Health Network
                        • Merit Health Central
                        • Merit Health Natchez
                        • Merit Health Rankin
                        • Merit Health River Oaks
                        • Merit Health River Region
                        • Merit Health Wesley
                        • Merit Health Woman's Hospital
                        • Merit Health Medical Group
                      • Bill Pay
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Events
                      • Contact
                      • analog clock icon
                      • Avg ER Wait Times

                        View ER Wait Times
                      Home/About Us/Newsroom/Safer Fun in the Sun

                      Refine Results

                      Affiliated Hospitals









                      About Us
                      Careers
                      Community Benefits
                      Contact Us
                      Newsroom
                      E-Newsletter Sign Up
                      2024 News Releases
                      2023 News Releases
                      2022 News Releases
                      2021 News Releases
                      2020 News Releases
                      2019 News Releases
                      2018 News Releases
                      2017 News Releases
                      2016 News Releases
                      2015 News Releases
                      Quality & Safety
                      ADA Accessibility Policy
                      Diversity Policy
                      Joint Commission Notice
                      Notice of Privacy Practices
                      Organized Health Care Arrangement Status
                      Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      Privacy Policy
                      Terms & Conditions
                      eNewsletter Redirect
                      Events
                      Events
                      Find a Doctor
                      Locations
                      Notice of Non-Discrimination
                      Patients & Visitors
                      Services
                      • information
                      • news
                      • Avg ER Wait Times

                        View ER Wait Times
                      • Directions

                        Find Our Location
                      • Merit Health Wesley Fights Hunger with Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive

                        05.08.2025

                      • Merit Health Delivering Quality Care and More to Hinds, Madison & Rankin Counties

                        04.22.2025

                      • See All News & Press Releases
                      • Senior Circle Events

                        Senior Circle Events

                        Senior Circle is dedicated to making life after 50 more active, informed, fun and full of friends.

                        Learn More
                      • Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Featuring a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                        Learn More
                      • Nurse and Patient

                        Patient Portal

                        Access your medical information
                        on demand.

                        Learn More

                      Safer Fun in the Sun

                      9/18/2023

                      Skin Cancer is on the Rise – Know How to Protect Yourself

                      When you think about sun protection, you might think about a day at the beach. But during your lifetime, you get sun exposure doing everyday things like walking the dog, mowing the lawn and even driving in your car. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays adds up over time, and can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Every year, nearly five million people are treated for skin cancer, and approximately 9,000 people die from melanoma.

                      Research shows that, while awareness of the risk is higher among women, MEN are actually more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer. Men tend to spend more time outside over their lifetimes than women, and their personal grooming products are less likely to contain sunscreen. When outside on a sunny day for more than an hour, only 14% of men reported using sunscreen on their faces and other exposed body parts.

                      Protecting yourself from UV exposure is simple, but common mistakes and misconceptions can result in increased risk. Here are some key things to remember to ensure you don’t fall victim to this increasingly common cancer:

                      • SPF Counts. The SPF number on a sunscreen reflects its effectiveness in blocking UV rays. While everyone should use a quality sunscreen with at least SPF 15, those with fair skin or prolonged exposure to the sun should consider using a product with SPF 50 or above.
                      • Application Errors. Body parts prone to heavy sun exposure (face, neck, shoulders) should receive a heavy application of sunscreen. Applying too thin a layer leaves you with gaps for the sun to blast through. Also, sunscreen does not last for 24 hours. Be sure to reapply often, especially if you are sweating or in water.
                      • Check Expiration Dates. Most sunscreen products are only good for 2-3 years, maximum, less if they’ve been exposed to high temperatures. Be sure to check the expiration date on your bottle. If you can’t find one, throw it out and invest in a new product.
                      • Avoid Skin Reactions. There are a variety of ingredient types in sunscreens. If your skin reacts badly to one set of ingredients, try another brand or formulation. Sensitive skin especially needs protection, as it tends to be more susceptible to skin cancers.

                      It’s important to remember that healthy sun exposure is vital to good health, enhancing sleep cycles, reducing the incidence of depression and increasing vitamin D levels. Taking precautions to keep your sun exposure controlled and appropriate allows you to benefit from all the sun has to offer.

                      Back

                      Affiliated Hospitals

                      • Merit Health Central
                      • Merit Health Natchez
                      • Merit Health Rankin
                      • Merit Health River Oaks
                      • Merit Health River Region
                      • Merit Health Wesley
                      • Merit Health Woman's Hospital
                      • ADA Accessibility Policy
                      • Terms & Conditions
                      • Privacy Policy
                      • Change Your Privacy Choices
                      • Notice of Privacy Practices
                      • Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      • Price Transparency

                      Copyright ©2025. All rights reserved.

                      An AllianceHealth Oklahoma® hospital

                      Services

                      • Audiology Services
                      • Bariatric Weight Loss Services
                      • Behavioral Health
                      • Breast Care
                      • Cancer Care
                      • Critical Care Medicine
                      • Diagnostic Imaging
                      • Digestive Health
                      • Ear, Nose & Throat Care
                      • Emergency Services
                      • Eye Care
                      • Family Medicine
                      • Geriatric Services
                      • Heart Care
                      • Infectious Disease Care
                      • Infusion Services
                      • Joint Replacement
                      • Kidney Disorders
                      • Laboratory Services
                      • Maternity Care
                      • Men's Health
                      • Neonatal Intensive Care
                      • Neurology
                      • Orthopedic Services
                      • Pain Management
                      • Palliative Care
                      • Pediatric Care
                      • Pharmacy
                      • Primary Care
                      • Rehabilitation Services
                      • Respiratory Care
                      • Rheumatology
                      • Sleep Medicine
                      • Surgical Services
                      • Urology
                      • Wellness Services
                      • Women's Health
                      • Wound Care

                      Patients & Visitors

                      • DAISY Award Nominations
                      • Events
                      • Financial Information
                      • Health Library
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal

                      About Us

                      • Careers
                      • Community Benefits
                      • Contact Us
                      • Newsroom
                      • Quality & Safety

                      Notice of Nondiscrimination
                      • English,
                      • አማርኛ,
                      • العربية,
                      • বাংলা,
                      • ျမန္မာဘာသာ,
                      • tsalagi gawonihisdi,
                      • 繁體中文,
                      • Chahta,
                      • Oroomiffa,
                      • Nederlands,
                      • Français,
                      • Kreyòl Ayisyen,
                      • Deutsch,
                      • ગુજરાતી,
                      • हिंदी,
                      • Hmoob,
                      • Igbo asusu,
                      • Ilokano,
                      • Italiano,
                      • 日本語,
                      • 한국어,
                      • Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀,
                      • ພາສາລາວ,
                      • Kajin Ṃajōḷ,
                      • ខ្មែរ,
                      • Diné Bizaad,
                      • नेपाली,
                      • Deitsch,
                      • فارسی,
                      • Polski,
                      • Português,
                      • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
                      • Română,
                      • Русский,
                      • Gagana fa'a Sāmoa,
                      • Srpsko‑hrvatski,
                      • Español,
                      • ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂,
                      • Tagalog,
                      • ภาษาไทย,
                      • Türkçe,
                      • Українська,
                      • اُردُو,
                      • Tiếng Việt,
                      • èdè Yorùbá,
                      • עִברִית
                      Loading... Loading...