Protect your skin.

There is an odd correlation hidden in the standard admonishment to use sun screen that might surprise you. People who use sunscreen may get more skin cancers than those who don't.

What's up with that? Time to chuck your sunscreen? Not so fast. Over one million Americans will be diagnosed this year with skin cancer and sunscreen is not to blame--the sun is. The trouble with sunscreen is that some people think that using it is a free solar pass, allowing unlimited access to the sun's rays at no additional cost. It's those extra hours of exposure that increase the risk of skin cancer, ironically enabled by the use of sunscreen.

Sunscreen does not give you immunity to the sun's damaging rays; sunscreen simply delays burning. All the other admonishments--hats, shade, protective clothing, and staying out of the sun during peak midday hours--are meant to be followed too. Beyond that, a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays should be used 365 days a year on all exposed skin, whether it's a cloudy January day or a sunny July one because all solar exposure is cumulative.

Even further, these guidelines are intended for everyone of every age and race. Runners are particularly vulnerable because we are outdoors year 'round. Even if you've established a habit of using a sunscreen daily on your face, you may routinely neglect the back of your neck, ears, legs and hands.

Most of us are still burdened with the attitude that tanned skin is associated with leisure time, affluence, and health. Having a tan is a trend that our American culture can't seem to shake despite millions of government dollars spent to change our minds. The fact is that the healthiest color for your skin is the color you were born with: (unless you're a nudist, the skin under your bathing suit can give you a hint of what that color was). It's time to evolve. Make the Australian motto your own-Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen SPF 15 or higher, and Slap on a hat. See the American Academy of Dermatology at www.aad.org or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ChooseYourCov er for more information.

(International Journal of cancer, 2000, Vol. 88, No. S, pp. 838-842 or visit www. americanrunning.org for a free copy of "Running & Healthy Skin ")

RELATED ARTICLE: Give yourself regular exams for skin changes that should be checked out by a dermatologist. Recent studies have shown that melanoma survivors have often spotted cancerous lesions themselves early enough for effective treatment. Look for the ABCD's: an Asymmetrical blemish, a blurred Border, Colors that are mixed, and a Diameter larger than a pencil eraser