Skin Cancer Risk From Flip-Flops, Baseball Caps

Experts say though flip-flops & baseball caps are inexpensive, convenient & have a casual charm, they may pose a hidden skin cancer risk.

Researchers from Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill, say most skin cancers develop on the parts of a person’s body that are constantly exposed to the sun.

Flip-flops expose the tips of your ears & baseball caps the tops of your feet to sun damage, making them potential areas for skin cancers.

Earlier, before flip-flops & baseball caps became popular, people going out on summery days traditionally sported broad-rimmed hats & shoes or sneakers that provided better skin protection.

But now the tips of the ears & the tops of the feet have not much protection. Besides, people using sunscreen often overlook those areas when applying it.

The researchers say you can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer by adopting the following precautions:

* Apply an SPF 15 sunscreen

* Don wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts & pants

* Avoid the sun between 10am – 3pm

* Apply a higher SPF sunscreen when you’re at higher altitudes

* Avoid sunbathing

* Avoid tanning salons

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