Summer is finally here, and the sun is shining upon us with all its glory. Kids are home, and enjoying at the pool, or just playing outdoors. It is easy to forget that the sun is damaging to our skin and can cause skin cancer.
One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime, and skin cancer is now the most common cancer in the United States. Skin cancer is also the most preventable type of cancer. I will discuss a few important points regarding sun damage and skin cancer.
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
According to the CDC, the following are risk factors:
- A lighter natural skin color.
- Family history of skin cancer.
- A personal history of skin cancer.
- Exposure to the sun through work and play.
- A history of sunburns early in life.
- A history of indoor tanning.
- Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun.
- Blue or green eyes.
- Blond or red hair.
- Certain types and a large number of moles.
Are Tanning Salons Safe?
A lot of people use indoor tanning salons to avoid the sun, and think that it is safe. It is simply NOT TRUE. Tanning booths primarily emit UVA. The sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. Not surprisingly, people who use tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent (International Journal of Cancer).
Which is worse: UVA or UVB?
There is a lot of confusion about what damage each type of radiation causes. Both UVA and UVB, penetrate the atmosphere and play an important role in premature skin aging, eye damage (including cataracts), and skin cancers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have identified UV rays as a proven human carcinogen, and the main cause of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, as well as melanomas.
Therefore, it is important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB.
How to Prevent Skin Cancer?
The following are some guidelines as per Skin Cancer.org:
- Seek shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Avoid burning in the sun.
- Avoid sun tanning and UV tanning booths.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- 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 your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
- Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
- Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
- See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.
“Operation: Save Your Skin” is a useful local resource for information about skin cancer prevention. This was founded by Shikha Prakash, a senior at Paris High. Visit the facebook page operation:save your skin for more information.
This information is strictly an opinion of Dr Prakash, and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Dr Chris Prakash is a contributing columnist, and author of eParisExtra’s “The Doctor is In” column. He is a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology Paris. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Oncology and Hematology. He lives in Paris, TX with his wife and two children, and can be reached at 9037850031, or Sucharu.prakash@usoncology.com