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CNN Live Today

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Aired May 24, 2002 - 13:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And if your holiday weekend includes a visit to the beach, we thought you might like to know where the best ones are. It may mean you have to hit the road or travel a quite a bit, though. According to the latest list by "Dr. Beach," the top five are in Florida and Hawaii. Topping the list, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park on the Florida Panhandle. Hanalei Beach, Hawaii is No. 2; followed by Kaanapali, Hawaii; Fort DeSoto Park, Florida and Caladesi Island State Park, Florida.

Just about any beach is good in my book. But before you hit the sands, take some careful advice from CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than one million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Jimmie Goetze's turn came two years ago.

JIMMIE GOETZE, SKIN CANCER PATIENT: One day my -- we had our grandson visiting us, and so I had to take the shirt off and, you know, go in the pool with him.

FEIG: Later that day she found a bright red spot on her back. It turned out to be melanoma.

GOETZE: I was scared. I was very scared. I knew that melanoma is deadly.

FEIG: But it's not necessarily one exposure that gives you skin cancer.

DR. LISA KAUFFMAN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: If you've had multiple sunburns, you get to a point where the cell's DNA can no longer make the necessary repairs, and the damaged cells just continue to multiply.

FEIG: There are three types of skin cancer, all can be prevented with a few simple steps. Avoid the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you must go out, wear a wide-brimmed hat. Use sunscreen regularly. An SPF of 30 blocks about 96 percent of the sunburning rays and make sure it's put on correctly.

KAUFFMAN: The best way to put on sunscreen is to put it on, wait 10 or 15 minutes, and put on another coat.

FEIG: Pay special attention to moles that have changed and rough, red areas that may be pre-cancerous lesions. If caught early, these spots can be treated in the doctor's office. And don't be fooled, the sun goes right through that T-shirt you wear at the beach to protect your shoulders.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: A beach primer tonight on CNN. Join us at 8:00 p.m. Eastern live from Manhattan Beach, California for "LIVE FROM THE BEACH: MEMORIAL DAY IN AMERICA." It's a show about beauty and the beast -- from sunbathers to sharks.

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