Get Sun Smart – NurseWise Debunks Five Summer Safety Myths
After a long winter, nothing feels better than the hot summer sun, but it’s important to remember the sun can be dangerous. In honor of “Sun Safety Week” (June 1 to 8), the health experts at NurseWise, a national multilingual nurse triage and health education provider, answer five myths of summer sun.
St. Louis, MO, July 01, 2015 --(PR.com)-- “Clearing up misinformation is the first step in protecting your family,” said Kim Tuck, RN, Chief Executive Officer of NurseWise. “Sun safety should be a priority because skin damage accumulates over the course of a lifetime.”
1. Myth: “It’s not safe to use sunscreen on my baby.” For babies younger than six months old, limit the amount of sunscreen; however, it needs to be used on exposed areas such as hands, face and neck. Ideal sun protections for babies are clothing, hats, etc. – many of which now come with extra UV protection within the fabric.
2. Myth: “I won’t get melanoma if I only tan.” You’re still at risk if you never burn, because a tan indicates damage to your skin. But if you do get sunburnt, just one burn can double your chance of developing melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society’s Skin Cancer Advisory Group.
3. Myth: “Sun can’t harm me through the window.” Glass filters out UVB rays, but UVA rays can still get through. Studies show that most adult have more freckles on their left side than their right from UV exposure on that side through their car window when driving. Bonus points if you have tinted windows – they keep out almost four times more UVA light than regular ones.
4. Myth: “If it’s cool or cloudy outside, my kids don’t need sunscreen.” Sunburns are common on overcast days if kids spend time outside with no sun protection. Up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through the clouds, according to the Skin Cancer Advisory Group.
5. Myth: “Too much sunscreen causes Vitamin D deficiency.” Both adults and kids get plenty vitamin D through multivitamins, vitamin D-rich foods (such as milk and orange juice), and through everyday sun exposure, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If you’re worried about Vitamin D levels, ask your Primary Care Provider (PCP) if a simple blood test to check is needed.
For more information about skin and sun safety, visit www.cancer.org/healthy/besafeinthesun/.
About NurseWise
NurseWise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation in the business of providing multilingual telehealth (nurse triage and health education) services. We partner with health plans, hospitals, providers, colleges and universities, and other specialty organizations to ensure all callers have access to high quality, appropriate care. NurseWise holds full Health Call Center Accreditation from URAC, an accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry, and Health Information Product (HIP) 2 certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which both demonstrate our emphasis on continuous improvement and commitment to quality at all levels of the organization. Our services are designed to encourage callers to become active participants in their health care, engaging in activities that promote appropriate utilization of care resources as well as better health outcomes for individuals and their families. We have provided uninterrupted service every day since 1995. NurseWise experienced Customer Care Professionals and Registered Nurses at our Clinical Care CentersTM across the country provide Care.Right.Now. through delivery of health information, education, and advice in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner. NurseWise has locations in Tempe, Ariz.; El Paso, Texas; Tyler, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; and St. Louis, Mo. For more information, please visit our website at www.nursewise.com or contact us at info@nursewise.com.
1. Myth: “It’s not safe to use sunscreen on my baby.” For babies younger than six months old, limit the amount of sunscreen; however, it needs to be used on exposed areas such as hands, face and neck. Ideal sun protections for babies are clothing, hats, etc. – many of which now come with extra UV protection within the fabric.
2. Myth: “I won’t get melanoma if I only tan.” You’re still at risk if you never burn, because a tan indicates damage to your skin. But if you do get sunburnt, just one burn can double your chance of developing melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society’s Skin Cancer Advisory Group.
3. Myth: “Sun can’t harm me through the window.” Glass filters out UVB rays, but UVA rays can still get through. Studies show that most adult have more freckles on their left side than their right from UV exposure on that side through their car window when driving. Bonus points if you have tinted windows – they keep out almost four times more UVA light than regular ones.
4. Myth: “If it’s cool or cloudy outside, my kids don’t need sunscreen.” Sunburns are common on overcast days if kids spend time outside with no sun protection. Up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through the clouds, according to the Skin Cancer Advisory Group.
5. Myth: “Too much sunscreen causes Vitamin D deficiency.” Both adults and kids get plenty vitamin D through multivitamins, vitamin D-rich foods (such as milk and orange juice), and through everyday sun exposure, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If you’re worried about Vitamin D levels, ask your Primary Care Provider (PCP) if a simple blood test to check is needed.
For more information about skin and sun safety, visit www.cancer.org/healthy/besafeinthesun/.
About NurseWise
NurseWise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation in the business of providing multilingual telehealth (nurse triage and health education) services. We partner with health plans, hospitals, providers, colleges and universities, and other specialty organizations to ensure all callers have access to high quality, appropriate care. NurseWise holds full Health Call Center Accreditation from URAC, an accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry, and Health Information Product (HIP) 2 certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which both demonstrate our emphasis on continuous improvement and commitment to quality at all levels of the organization. Our services are designed to encourage callers to become active participants in their health care, engaging in activities that promote appropriate utilization of care resources as well as better health outcomes for individuals and their families. We have provided uninterrupted service every day since 1995. NurseWise experienced Customer Care Professionals and Registered Nurses at our Clinical Care CentersTM across the country provide Care.Right.Now. through delivery of health information, education, and advice in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner. NurseWise has locations in Tempe, Ariz.; El Paso, Texas; Tyler, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; and St. Louis, Mo. For more information, please visit our website at www.nursewise.com or contact us at info@nursewise.com.
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Nursewise
Jennifer Bonham
305-934-0022
www.centene.com
Jennifer Bonham
305-934-0022
www.centene.com
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