As the days get longer and warmer, Georgians head for lakes, beaches, parks, and all kinds of outdoor activities in the sun. It's the time of year that the American Cancer Society urges people to follow simple guidelines to take care of their skin and prevent skin cancer.

According to the Society, more than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 62,190 cases in 2006 and most (about 7,910) of the 10,710 deaths due to skin cancer each year.

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, accounting for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. Risk factors for skin cancer include unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sun; fair complexion; family history; severe sunburns as a

child; occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds or radium; and multiple or atypical moles on the skin.

The best ways to lower the risk of developing all kinds of skin cancer are to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time and to practice sun safety. Tips for protecting the skin include:

Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Seek shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are brightest and strongest.

Slip on a shirt. Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you're out in the sun. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to the light.

Slop on sunscreen. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 and higher. Apply a generous

amount (about a palmful) and reapply after swimming, toweling dry or perspiring.

Slap on a hat. Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, earts and neck.

Wear sunglasses with 99-100 percent UV absorption to provide optimal protection for your eyes.

Follow these practices even on cloudy days since UV rays come through clouds.

For further information on skin cancer, visit the American Cancer Society's website at www.cancer.org or call the toll-free number, 1-800ACS-2345.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering, through research, education, advocacy and service.