Over half of our exposure to the sun occurs before we turn 18, and researchers at the Center for Dermatology Research at Wake Forest University are asking pediatricians to educate parents and children about sun exposure and skin cancer prevention. Currently, pediatricians are not speaking to patients about sun exposure safety habits. According to The Skin Foundation, to reduce skin cancer risks, we need to protect ourselves year-round by staying out of the sun during peak hours of 10a.m. to 4p.m., by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor SPF 15 or higher, wearing a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, avoiding the use of tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices, keeping newborns out of the sun, teaching children good sun-protective practices, examining skin from head-to-toe once a month, having a professional examination annually, and avoiding sunburn. One blistering sunburn doubles your risk of melanoma.

Update reminder: Today is the last day to bid on the auction for the YogaForce's A-Line Mat signed by Jessica Simpson! to benefit The Skin Foundation.

Jessica Simpson has autographed one of YogaForce's A-Line Mats for an ebay/GivingWorks auction to benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. YogaForce founder Anne E. Appleby hopes the auction, which ends on February 14, Valentine's Day, will raise awareness about skin cancer, in addition to money for the foundation. Appleby is a skin cancer survivor on a personal crusade to increase awareness about skin cancer, and emphasizes that nationally, there are more new cases of skin cancer each year than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon. She does not feel that skin cancer gets the same level of media attention as other cancers, and this auction is one way of attracting media attention about skin cancer.