May is Skin Cancer Awareness month

Skin cancer is a disease that affects people of every age, gender and ethnicity. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70; in fact, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.

But there is good news: Because skin cancer is chiefly a lifestyle disease, it is also highly preventable. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and about 86 percent of melanomas are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Knowing the risk factors and practicing sun protection year-round are key to reducing risk.

“It’s never too early or too late in life to start protecting your skin from sun damage,” said Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, president of the Skin Cancer Foundation. “Parents and caregivers should teach children about sun protection at an early age and help them instill lifelong habits. And even after a lifetime of sun exposure, older people can stop further damage to their skin by making sun protection a priority.”

Here are the Skin Cancer Foundation’s tips for reducing skin cancer risk:

Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest. An extra rule of thumb is the shadow rule. When people’s shadows are shorter than they are, the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation is stronger; if their shadows are longer, UV radiation is less intense.

Do not burn. A person’s risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she had had five or more sunburns at any point in life.

Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. UV radiation from tanning machines is known to cause cancer in humans. Indoor UV tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, than those who have never tanned indoors. Tanning bed users are also 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma and 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, two of the most common forms of skin cancer. The more time a person has spent tanning indoors, the higher the risk.

Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Clothing can be the most effective form of sun protection, so make the most of it with densely woven and bright- or dark-colored fabrics, which offer the best defense. The more skin one covers, the better, so choose long sleeves and long pants whenever possible.

Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to the entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. One eight-ounce bottle of sunscreen should provide two full days of sun protection.

Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens may be used on babies over the age of 6 months, but they should also be protected by shade and clothing. Children are very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation – just one severe sunburn in childhood doubles the chances of developing melanoma later in life.

People should examine their skin head to toe every month. While self-exams shouldn’t replace the important annual skin exam performed by a physician, they offer the best chance of detecting the early warning signs of skin cancer. If people notice any change in existing moles or discover any new spots that do not heal after several weeks, they should see a physician immediately.

See a physician every year for a professional skin exam. 

For more information, go to www.SkinCancer.org.