Unit 2: Personal care.(health)(Brief Article)

Background Bonus

Unit Objectives

The number of skin-cancer cases has surged in the past 20 years. In 1993, an estimated 9,100 people died from skin cancer, and 32,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Since the number of skin-cancer cases continues to rise 4 to 5 percent a year, experts predict one in six children will develop some form of skin cancer in the future.

The American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons have developed guidelines for exposure to the sun, hoping to prevent some future cases of skin cancer. These guidelines are especially important for children, who typically spend three times as much time in the sun as adults. These guidelines include using a water resistant sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15 and wearing sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB light.

Students learn to

* understand the functions of hormones in the growth process;

* practice good skin care and hygiene;