Parents may want to place a bottle of sunscreen behind the television.

Then, when they pull the plug on their children's games, they might remember to have them apply it before marching them outside to play.

According to an article written by three Slippery Rock University professors, there are plenty of risks from exposure to the sun, especially when exercising.

Nearly 5 million people each year are treated for skin cancer in the United States; that's more than all other cancers combined, the article states.

Jeff Lynn, Joyan Urda and Patricia Pierce combined their efforts on the article, which discusses the risks of sun exposure during exercise. The trio published their work in the Health & Fitness Journal, an American College of Sports Medicine publication.

Lynn said skin cancer has impacted each of the authors in some way.

“All three of the authors have had stuff cut off our skin,” he said.

Lynn said the article's topic may seem a strange choice to some, especially with the sports medicine field's recent focus on concussions. But he said this was a topic the three authors could exhibit the most passion. “People ought to focus on the thing that interests them,” Lynn said. “It shouldn't be what's hot. It should be what's important to you, so you do a good job.”

The article explains that even as little as 15 minutes in the sun can allow UV radiation to damage the skin. Environment, time of day and perspiration can also magnify the damage done.

For prevention, the professors advise the use of clothing and sun blocks, specifically UPF, which block both forms of UV rays. SPF sun screens only block UV-B rays.

The professors said to avoid loosely woven fabrics, such as cotton, which can allow more UV rays to penetrate. Water-resistant sun screen is important, especially for those sweating profusely, they said.

“Unfortunately, sweating has a dual negative effect of increasing skin photosensitivity and washing away sunscreen,” the article states.

They also say that before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. are good times to exercise because UV rays begin to decline during those time frames while they typically peak near mid-day.

Lynn said a lot of the article has common sense ideas with a little added detail, but the defining part of it is the section that discusses behavioral change strategies.

He said the article and the journal are most often read by medical practitioners, so their message was to help their audience in helping their patients.

“Nobody likes to be told what to do,” Lynn said. “The key piece of this is how to elicit people to change.”

The professors lay out a stage-based guide that gives strategies on how to progress to the next step. They also have a basic timeline for the process spanning one to two years. The goal is to usher the patient to the final stage of habitually protecting their skin.

Lynn said the only thing worse than not applying sun screen is a tanning bed.

“Every time you tan, you damage your skin at a DNA level,” he said. “It's the perfect recipe for cancer.”

Lynn still understands that this evidence will not stop some from using the machines. Some may even believe they are immune to cancer because their families have so far been clean of the illness.

“This type of small-minded thinking is always going to be around,” Lynn said. “I think that comes from not really understanding it.”

Lynn said it is hard to explain the risks in an area such as Western Pennsylvania where sunlight is in short supply at times. He said he and the other professors tailored the article to fit the region.

“We live in one of the cloudiest parts of the country, so people forget the risks because when the sun comes out, people are drawn to it,” Lynn said.

He said it makes it harder to explain the risks when there are also health benefits to getting sunlight. According to the article, sunlight can affect vitamin D levels, mood, sleep quality, blood pressure and seasonal affective disorder.

Lynn said these findings are also based on a healthy amount of sunlight.

“It has its benefits in measured doses,” he said. “It's important to look at all sides of the argument.”

Lynn said awareness has risen to a point that people need to stop doubting the evidence and trust that science and medicine will prevail. “The science is clear,” he said. “It doesn't mean you have to change what you do, but at least you are informed.”