This year, more Pennsylvania State Parks will pass a program designed to reduce the risk of skin cancer to provide guests with free sunscreen.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to American Academy of Dermatology. It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

AAD says that sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer by protecting the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

“Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender or race,” AAD said. “Sunscreen can also help prevent premature skin aging, such as wrinkles and age spots, which are caused by excessive unprotected UV exposure.”

The plan was expanded this year to cover more than 20 beaches, swimming pools and playgrounds State park And has the ability to cover more than 1 million people, according to the state Ministry of Conservation and Natural Resources. Each park will receive two battery-powered sunscreen dispensers mounted on poles, providing 30+ SPF Bright Guard sunscreen.

Spokesperson Wesley Robinson said in an email to PhillyVoice that DCNR is expanding the program to increase awareness of skin cancer risks and ensure the safety of more people.

Robinson said: “These dispensers are very popular because many people may forget to bring sunscreen or need more sunscreen than in the bottle.”.

The park receives two boxes of sunscreen every season, and Robinson knows that they will not run out during the year.

French Creek State Park in Berks County is one of the parks that joined the program this year. Due to the construction project, its swimming pool will be closed throughout the summer, but its playground will provide sunscreen.

The new park includes:

• Black Mo Shannon, Central County (Beach)
• Canoe Creek, Blair County (beach)
• French Creek, Berks County (playground)
• Po Valley, Central County (beach)
• Ricketts Glen, Luzerne County (beach)
Shawnee, Bedford County (beach)
• Tuscarora, Schuylkill County (beach)
• Tobyhanna, Monroe County (beach)

The parks that have participated in the plan are:

• Condor, Central County (beach)
• Beltzville, Carbon County (beach)
• Caledonia, Franklin County (pool)
•Cordorus, York County (beach)
• Cowens Gap, Fulton County (beach)
• Gifford Pinchot, York County (beach)
• Laurel Mountain Lake, Somerset County (Beach 8 and 11)
• Little Buffalo, Perry County (pool)
• Marsh Creek, Chester County (beach)
•mt. Pisgar, Bradford County (Beach)
• Nockamixon, Bucks County (pool)
• Pine Grove Furnace, Cumberland County (beach)
• Presque Isle, Erie County (Beach 6)

AAD provides some useful Sun protection safety tips For your skin:

• Stay in the shade as much as possible. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 am and 2 pm, and AAD says that if your shadow is shorter than you, please look for shade.
• Cover your skin. Wear light long-sleeved shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.
• Be careful in water and sand, as they reflect harmful sunlight.
• Eat more foods rich in vitamin D. AAD said, don’t rely on the sun for this.
• Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkles.

Skin cancer can be divided into three main types: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.They usually appear as skin irregularities, such as Lumps, injuries and ulcers on any part of the body, According to the Mayo Clinic. Rare skin cancers can cause red and purple patches on the skin or shiny, hard nodules under the skin.

Not all skin abnormalities are caused by cancer, but the Mayo Clinic urges people to see a doctor if they find new or painful things on their skin.

This is the fifth year of the plan, and the cost is shared by the Cancer Fund of the Ministry of Health and the Melanoma Project.

“Every 40 Pennsylvanians will be diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetime,” Robinson said. “Skin cancer and melanoma are the most preventable types of cancer.”

Fully vaccinated tourists do not need to wear masks outdoors, but they need to wear masks indoors. People who have not been vaccinated must wear masks indoors and outdoors when they are not actively swimming.

The state park system has 15 parks with swimming pools, which are currently open to the public.

Some construction projects and shortage of personnel delayed the opening Some beaches and swimming pools. The state is providing free lifeguard certification training to solve these staffing problems.