PERSUASIVE ESSAY

Being completely safe under the sun is next to impossible. People may think they are doing an efficient job protecting themselves from the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays when, in reality, they are not. There are many practical methods that individuals can adopt to protect skin from harmful radiation, thereby reducing the risk of developing melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. If individuals choose to be in the sun, there are precautions, including using sunscreen with a high SPF and wearing UPF clothing, seeking shade during peak hours, and avoiding the use of artificial sunlight, such as tanning beds and lamps. 
Race, ethnicity, and genetics play large roles in the development of skin cancer. Mayo Clinic states that, “Melanoma can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones, melanoma tends to occur on the palms or soles, or under the fingernails or toenails” (“Skin Cancer”). People with darker skin complexions are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with a more advanced stage of melanoma because it is more difficult to detect it than in a person with a lighter complexion. Just because an individual cannot see melanoma does not mean this cancer is not there. Nevertheless, AIM at Melanoma Foundation states, “Most skin cancer warnings are directed towards fair skinned individuals with blue eyes and blond or red hair who sunburn easily, as these individuals are at greatest risk” (“Melanoma Risk”). This means that individuals with the characteristics previously stated are at a higher risk than most. On another note, individuals who have already battled skin cancer are more prone to develop it again. According to Cancer.Net, “People who have already had melanoma have an increased risk of developing other, new melanomas. People who have had basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer also have an increased risk of developing melanoma” (“Melanoma- Risk Factors”). Further, if melanoma runs in the family, studies have shown that it increases the chances of developing melanoma. The American Cancer Society states,  “Your risk of melanoma is higher if one or more of your first-degree relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, or children) has had melanoma. Around 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of the disease” (“Melanoma Skin”).  This statistic is not a death sentence, this a fact that people should be aware of and take into consideration before sunbathing. Despite these inherited traits that make certain people more prone to developing melanoma, people can reduce chances of developing melanoma by taking precautions during sun exposure.
Sunscreen and UPF clothing are great ways to protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays. A sunscreen with a higher SPF, “Sun Protection Factor,” will block out a larger percentage of UV rays (King). Regarding SPF, the Skin Cancer Foundation explains, “The number tells you how long the sun’s UVB rays would take to redden your skin if you apply the sunscreen exactly as directed compared with the amount of time without sunscreen” (“Sunscreen”). SPF levels are important when looking at sunscreen because the amount of SPF determines how long a person can stay out in the sun before getting a red undertone color commonly referred to as a sunburn (“Melanoma Prevention”). Rogel Cancer Center of the University of Michigan provides this example: “if you usually burn after 10 minutes in the sun, an SPF 15 sunscreen will allow you to stay outside 15 times longer, or 150 minutes, before your skin turns red.” This means that the amount of time a person can stay out in the sun without doing extreme damage to the skin layers is based off their “skin’s natural tolerance level” and the number of SPF displayed on the sunscreen bottle (“Melanoma Prevention”). In addition to using sunscreens, UPF clothing can help prevent melanoma. UPF clothing is made out of a fabric that attempts to shield UV rays. UPF differs from SPF in that, “SPF pertains only to a sunscreen's effectiveness against UVB rays, considered to be the more damaging type of light. UPF, though, gauges a fabric's effectiveness against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light” (Andre). UPF rated clothing increases protection from the sun’s UV rays. Wearing this type of clothing, like wearing sunscreen, decreases the risks of developing skin cancer in the future. Even though applying sunscreen with a high SPF and wearing UPF rated clothing are effective methods to lessen sun exposure, there is still no guarantee that health problems such as skin cancer are banished (Andre).
Wearing sunscreen and UPF clothing reduces the risk of developing melanoma; however, it is crucial to seek shade during the sun’s peak hours. The sun’s peak hours are when the UV levels are the highest and most harmful to humans. When radiation from the sun is high, it is key to look for shade under a nice tree (“Melanoma”). This includes staying out of the sun from 10 am- 4 pm and wearing sunscreen with a high SPF (“Melanoma Risk”). In fact, the “midday sun” rays are the most violent and harsh toward the skin (“Prevention”). This means people should fully avoid laying out in the sun at these hours. According to AIM at Melanoma Foundation, “Frequent and intense exposure to UV radiation, either from the sun or from indoor tanning devices, is the major risk factor for melanoma” (“Melanoma Risk”). Though avoiding peak hours in the sun helps to protect the skin, exposure to any UV light has the potential to damage skin.
Avoiding the use of tanning beds and lamps is critical for one’s health. Many people do not realize the detrimental impact of artificial UV rays used for tanning. For example, “Indoor tanning has been shown to increase the risk of melanoma by up to 75%. Melanoma is one of the top three cancers diagnosed in young adults (ages 25-29), and scientists attribute this trend to the use of tanning beds among this age group, particularly young women” (“Prevention”). Tanning beds have been proven to increase the chances of developing melanoma (“Prevention”). Using a tanning bed comes with a high price to pay: health. Some believe that tanning beds are not harmful, but that is not the case. Tanning beds release UV rays that cause damage to skin layers (“Preventing Melanoma: Can Melanoma Be Prevented?”). “People who use tanning beds, tanning parlors, or sun lamps have an increased risk of developing all types of skin cancer. Using indoor tanning beds is strongly discouraged” (“Melanoma- Risk Factors”). Tanning beds, tanning parlors, or sun lamps are all high-risk machines that can be the cause of developing skin cancer, as Cancer.Net points out. According to the American Academy of Dermatology,  "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that if no one younger than 18 years of age ever used a tanning bed, we could prevent about 61,839 melanomas and 6,735 deaths due to melanoma” (“10 Surprising Facts of Indoor Tanning”). Using artificial UV rays to tan is extremely risky, and coupled with the dangers of natural sun exposure, people face a significant risk of developing skin cancer and other health problems. Therefore, people can never truly be safe from the effects of UV rays. 
Overall, it is important to avoid artificial UV rays such as tanning booths and sun lamps at all costs. If individuals choose to be in the sun, there are precautions, including using sunscreen with a high SPF and UPF clothing, seeking shade particularly at peak hours, and avoiding the use of tanning beds and lamps (“Sunscreen”). Being completely safe from the sun’s harmful effects is impossible, but adopting cautionary methods could really make a positive change regarding health concerns.