Keep Your Skin Safe This Summer
May 29, 2007
By: Rebecca K. Abma for Body1
If you think slathering on sunscreen at the beach or pool is enough to prevent skin cancer, think again. Exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation occurs anytime you’re in the sun. If you don’t protect yourself while exercising, gardening or picnicking outdoors, your skin may still be getting damaged.| Take Action | The The American Cancer Society recommends the ABCD rule to look for the usual signs of melanoma:
Asymmetry: Half of the mole or birth mark does not match the other in size, shape, color or thickness.
Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched or poorly defined.
Color: The pigment is not uniform, but may have different shades of brown, black, red, white or blue.
Diameter: The area is larger than a quarter of an inch across or has been growing. |
Each year, more than one million Americans develop skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the majority of skin cancers are preventable with a little forethought. An easy way to remember is the catch phrase, “Slip! Slop! Slap! And Wrap!” Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and delicate skin around them.
A recent study published in The Lancet, however, reported that sunscreens may not protect against melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that claims about 8,000 Americans annually. More than 108,000 Americans develop malignant melanoma each year, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Its primary preventable causes are sun exposure and sunburn. Fair-skinned individuals are at greatest risk for the disease, but dark skin does not guarantee protection.
Melanoma may appear suddenly or begin in or near a mole or other dark spot on the skin. If a relative or close family member has had melanoma, you’re at particular risk. But, if found early, melanoma can be removed while it’s still in the curable stage. That’s why it’s important to check your skin regularly and be sun-smart.
“Wearing sun-protective clothes and a hat, and reducing sun exposure should be preferred to sunscreens,” notes study author Stephan Lautenschlager, MD, of the Trimeli Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland.
Sunscreen is still the next best thing to avoiding sunlight altogether, the study found. If you plan on using sunscreen, be sure to apply it liberally and evenly. Other tips to prevent skin cancer:
Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Shun tanning, especially tanning beds and booths. There’s no such thing as a healthy tan.
Each day, apply a palm-full of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater, 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours and immediately after swimming.
Seek shade or cover up with clothing. Tightly woven fabrics and dark or bright colors offer more protection than lighter colors or loose weaves.
Don’t forget a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection.
Protect your children. Keep newborns out of the sun and apply sunscreen to children over six months of age.
Finding skin cancer early
In addition to preventive measures, early detection of skin cancer is important for a cure. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends performing monthly skin self-exams and visiting a dermatologist for annual skin cancer screenings. To perform a self-exam, you’ll need a full length mirror and a hand mirror. It may also be helpful to have another person examine your skin for moles.
Step 1: Examine your front and back in a mirror, then right and left sides, with your arms raised.
Step 2: Bend your elbows and carefully study your forearms, back of upper arms and palms of you hand.
Step 3: Look at the backs of your legs and feet. Don’t forget to look between your toes and at the soles of your feet.
Step 4: Using a hand mirror, examine the back of your neck and scalp.
Step 5: Check your back and buttocks using a hand mirror.
Click here to read more about skin cancer.
Last updated: 29-May-07
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