If Puget Sound was state by itself, it would rank fourth in the nation for skin cancer rates. That’s because people think cloudy weather means they don’t have to protect themselves from the sun.

The Washington State Department of Health advises consumers that protecting themselves from skin cancer is something that must be done all year, regardless of whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Ultra Violet light exposure, the most preventable cause of skin cancer, occurs even on cloudy days.

Although children are rarely diagnosed with skin cancer, sunburns in childhood are associated with melanoma later in life. So, the department said it’s important to protect children from UV light.

Reducing exposure to UV at early ages is one of reasons for a law that went into effect this month banning kids under 18 from using tanning beds without a written prescription from a doctor.

UV-B rays penetrate the top layers of skin and are most responsible for sunburns. UV-A rays go through the deeper layers of the skin. Both types of UV rays/light are emitted by lamps in tanning beds.

Consumers can help prevent skin cancer by using sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher; staying in the shade, especially during midday hours; covering skin with clothing that covers the arms and legs; or wearing a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears and neck.

Consumers can learn more about skin cancer and how to prevent it on the Washington Cares About Cancer partnership page and on the department’s website, About Comprehensive Cancer Control.

For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.