Stylish shade on summer days.

• Position: Skin Cancer - Brief article

American women should be creative and use parasols to protect delicate skin from the sun, suggest physicians at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. 'Opening a parasol, or umbrella, on a blazing hot day continues to be a stylish and effective way to prevent skin cancer in many countries," notes Susan Chon, assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology.

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Parasols not only help keep women cool, they also protect skin from the early signs of aging. "Sadly, not many people carry parasols in the United States but, in other countries, it is a way of life," Chon relates.

The word parasol comes from Latin roots meaning shade or shadow. Women around the world have been using the parasol for centuries to protect their skin from the sun. No one knows the exact date the parasol was invented, although it began appearing as far back as ancient Egypt...