Community Corner

Participate in Don't Fry Day this Friday

Skin cancer is scary, but preventable, so lather up today, Don't Fry Day.

The most common form of cancer in the United States is skin cancer. According to Epic-Care, it takes just one bad sunburn to increase your risk of skin cancer later in life.

To shine a little (non-UV) light on the issue, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention have deemed May 25, the Friday before Memorial Day, as No Fry Day.

The weather forecast in Capitola-Soquel for the weekend is a bit iffy, but even gray skies can produce a sunburn. 

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Consider these tips from the EPA to protect yourself while enjoying the holiday weekend:

1. Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap. Slip on a shirt. Slop on SPF 15+ sunscreen. Slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses to protect your body from overexposure to the sun.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2. Seek shade. Find shade during the sun’s peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to reduce the risk of too much sun exposure.

3. Check the UV Index. When planning outdoor activities, check the UV Index to identify the times that pose the greatest risk for overexposure to the sun.

Epic-Care suggests the ABCDE system for checking moles that could be cancerous:

A is for ASYMMETRY: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.           
B is for BORDER: Normal spots have smooth edges. Cancerous spots may have irregular, ragged, notched or blurred edges.
C is for COLOR: The color is not the same throughout and may include shades of brown or black or sometimes with patches of red, white or blue.
D is for DIAMETER: Benign moles are about the size of a pencil eraser – about 1/4 inch. Anything larger is worrisome.
E is for ELEVATED: Having a spot above skin level is another warning sign.

For more information on Don't Fry Day, click here.

For more news about Capitola-Soquel, follow us on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here