May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

The first of a series of posts about Skin Cancer and how you can prevent it. Skin cancer is a lifestyle disease and if you follow some simple advice, you’ll dramatically reduce your chances of being diagnosed with this preventable cancer.

May happens to be Skin Cancer Awareness Month and though most of us know that prolonged sun exposure is the primary cause of skin cancer, we’ll often forget some simple preventative measures that could very well save your life, and keep your skin looking its best as you age.

The statistics are alarming-one out of every five Americans will develop skin cancer, and while a staggering 13 million Americans have had non-melanoma skin cancer, approximately 800,000 Americans have been diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

“About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 65 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun,” says Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Everyone, regardless of skin color, should make staying safe in the sun a priority and incorporate sun protection measures into their daily life.”

How can you prevent skin cancer?

It’s quite simple-avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, use sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and protective clothing.

Gone are the days of tin-foiled covered albums (yes, it’s hard to believe that many of us covered the double albums of  our youth, frying under the August sun, most likely singing the lyrics hidden under the magnifying cover.) Gone are the days of SPF 4, or none at all, baking on roof tops, backyards or if you were lucky enough, the beach.

Thankfully, we been  liberally applying a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 every day. (We have a terrific sunscreen by SkinMedica that’s light and non-greasy and perfect for your face.) Broad spectrum sunscreen protects skin against both UVB rays which are responsible for skin cancers, and UVA rays which accelerate fine lines, age spots and wrinkling, also known as photoaging.

Applying sunscreen year round may not seem necessary, but reflected UV radiation is as damaging as direct UV radiation. Wearing sunscreen when you hit the slopes  is just as important as wearing a helmet because snow reflects 85 percent of UV radiation.

We’ve known many skiers who came home with severe burns because they didn’t think to put on sunscreen.

And if you’re heading to the beach, remember relaxing on that float may seem idyllic, but water reflects 100 percent of UV radiation, so a higher SPF is needed. Don’t forget that umbrella, too, because you’ll cut down on your UVB/UVA exposure by staying cool under that protective canopy.

If you’re gardening, site-seeing, biking, or engaging in any outdoor pursuits, you’ll need your sunscreen, and a hat with a width of at least four inches. And try to avoid exposure between 10am-4.00pm, when the sun’s rays are their strongest.

Most folks don’t apply enough sunscreen, so you’ll need about two tablespoons to cover your entire body (including your neck and ears) approximately 30 minutes before you head out in the sun. Don’t forget to re-apply every two hours and immediately after swimming or heavy exercise.

Wearing long sleeves or at least covering up as much as you can stand, and wearing tightly woven and darker coloured items cuts down on exposure.

And when you choose a pair of sunglasses, make sure they block 99-100 percent of UVA/UVB rays, and if they don’t specify, skip them. UV radiation can not only damage the skin around the eyes, but can also damage the lens and cornea. It is also linked to the development of cataracts and possibly macular degeneration.

Do not ever slip into a  tanning salon-ever!! If you like a bit of color, spray on tans, and self tanning creams are a safe and healthy alternative.

And finally, inspect your skin, from top to tail, head to toe, and everything in between,  for any changes in moles, or skin texture (itching, scaling, bleeding, etc), and visit your physician or dermatologist for annual skin evaluation. (In our office, we’ve seen clients with suspicious moles who we’ve referred to their dermatologist for further evaluation.)

By following these simple guidelines, you’ll dramatically reduce the chances of getting skin cancer, quite possibly saving your own life.