Edward-Elmhurst Health: 5 steps to lower your risk of skin cancer

Sunny summer days mean swimsuits, shorts and tank tops and more exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Most skin cancers are a direct result of exposure to the UV rays in sunlight. Exposure depends on how strong the sun’s rays are and how well skin is protected. Take these steps to protect your skin and lower your risk of skin cancer:

• Reduce and limit exposure to the hot sun. The Melanoma Research Foundation suggests using a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. This will help protect against sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging.
• Allow 15 minutes to apply sunscreen before going outside. Use one ounce of sunscreen (about a shot glass full), and apply sunscreen to lips, ears, hands, back of the neck and feet. A good rule of thumb is to re-apply sunscreen every two hours after swimming or sweating. Once a day is not enough.
• A cloudy day doesn’t mean people can’t get burned. Apply sunscreen even on cloudy days. Also, avoid tanning beds, which have been linked with an increased risk of melanoma, especially if their use is started before a person is 30.
• Seek shade and cover skin, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its peak. If someone must be outside for prolonged periods, they should use an umbrella or wear a long sleeve shirt, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Avoid lying in the sun without protecting your skin.
• Pay attention. Examine skin from head to toe every month and look for abnormal moles or growths. Look for any change in a mole, blemish, birthmark or freckle that grows or looks different than any mole. Also look for any changes in surface texture or the way a mole feels.

If melanoma is found early, it is almost always treatable, but if it is not detected, it can spread to other parts of the body. Follow the ABCDs of melanoma: watch for asymmetry of moles, border irregularity, color and diameter.

The risk of developing melanoma increases with age, but melanoma is not uncommon among people younger than 30. People with a family history of melanoma have a higher risk and they need to be evaluated by a dermatologist or dermatologic oncologist.

Get more information at EEHealth.org/services/cancer.