Dermatologists give tips on enjoying skin-friendly summer

As the heat of summer starts to kick in, one person is beginning to draw everyone's envy.

Well, besides your friend with the Jet Ski.

No, it's the person with that perfectly bronzed skin tone, the effortless-looking tan that we all know took quite a bit of effort.

Don't let that person make you jealous, said Dr. Jason Papenfuss, a dermatologist with Midwest Dermatology Clinic.

"There's no way that you can get a deep, dark tan and not damage your skin to some degree," said Papenfuss, who regularly comes from Omaha to help staff Midwest's Grand Island clinic.

 Chief among Papenfuss' concerns is skin cancer, something that may seem miles away for a 16-year-old by the pool, but is far more widespread than many might think.

At current rates, about 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, said Dr. Jennifer Alberts, a dermatologist with Grand Island Dermatology.

Most common are basal and squamous cell carcinoma, which pose little danger of spreading. Their warning signs include open itchy patches or sores on the skin that don't heal within several weeks.

Those two types have been tied most closely to chronic sun exposure, Papenfuss said.

"All the farmers in the area who used to be without canopies on their tractors, they're the ones who are coming in," he said.

Much more serious is malignant melanoma, which poses a grave risk of spreading to other organs. Its warning signs are new moles or moles that grow or change in texture, shape or color.

It's critical to have melanomas diagnosed early, as treatment is difficult and survival rates slim in later stages of the disease, Papenfuss said.

What both Papenfuss and Alberts are adamant about is the use of sunscreen with at least 30 SPF.

While many tanning lotions with less than 30 SPF block ultraviolet-B rays that cause burning, they still allow ultraviolet-A rays that cause tanning -- and still contribute to skin cancer risk.

"A lot of people say, "I'm getting tan; I'm not getting burned,'" Alberts said. "Well, you're still doing long-term damage to your skin and increasing your chances of getting skin cancer."

Alberts and Papenfuss recommend staying out of the sun as much as possible during the hours of most direct sunlight -- about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And for those who can't avoid the sun, they advise to be smart about being outside -- re-apply sunscreen every few hours, wear a wide-brimmed hat if possible, try to find shade when you can.

They're not telling you not to have a life. In fact, Papenfuss said, he enjoys running, biking and golfing.

"I don't ask patients to be hermits," he said. "Enjoy the summer, but just do it in a smart way."