It’s almost the greatest time of year- summer! Soon the days will get longer, and we’ll begin to leave our winter hibernations and venture outdoors. The warmth of the sunshine makes any day better and being outdoors is the best way to experience all Mother Nature has to offer. With that comes the danger of skin damage. May is National Melanoma Awareness month. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It’s time to start thinking about how to enjoy your summer without harming your body.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. There are five main types of skin cancer: Actinic Keratosis (AK), Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Dysplastic Nevi (Atypical moles), Melanoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Basal Cell Carcinoma accounts for the greatest amount of skin cancers, while Melanoma represents only 1% of all cases. However, Melanoma is the deadliest form; it is estimated 10,000 individuals will die in 2016 due to Melanoma. Melanoma is the most common form of skin cancer among young adults (ages 25-29) and second most common among young people (ages 15-29). So why not have skin cancer awareness month in general?
The main reason for choosing to focus on Melanoma is because it’s preventable and young adults need to be informed of the dangers. The greatest cause of Melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet radiation which includes sunlight and tanning beds. Tanning beds are considered just as dangerous and likely to cause cancer as cigarettes. In fact, any exposure to a tanning bed before the age of 35 causes that individual to be 35% more likely to develop Melanoma. More people develop cancer because of tanning than those who develop cancer because of smoking. Tanning beds are so dangerous that they’ve been banned in Brazil and Australia. A study conducted by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System found that 13% of all American high school students have used a tanning bed at least one time. Why do we keep putting ourselves in danger?
You may have been told that tanning in a tanning bed is safer than getting tan from laying in the sun. Well, this is not the truth. While both have their fair share of dangers, indoor tanning comes with much higher risks. You’re exposing yourself to high levels of radiation in a short amount of time. The skin cannot handle that as it breaks down the outer protective layer of the skin causing more harm to your body. This can lead to premature aging and changes in your skin texture. Another rumor that circulates is the need to get a base tan from a tanning bed prior to tanning in the sun to protect your skin. A base tan does absolutely nothing to protect your skin from burning. It is still possible to burn your skin even if you have a tan. You may have also heard that tanning beds are a good source of vitamin D. This is not the case. There are two forms of ultraviolet rays: UVA and UVB. UVB rays are known for providing the body with vitamin D. The majority of tanning beds are using UVA rays which cause the skin to tan, but provide no vitamin D.
Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common cancer among Caucasians, Hispanics, Chinese Asians, and the Japanese. However, the general survival rate for Caucasians is higher than that of Hispanics and Blacks. Many would think that skin cancer is more prevalent among women than men, but that is not the case for young adults. More men are diagnosed with Melanoma before the age of 39 than women. However, more women are diagnosed than men with Melanoma after age 50. In fact, it’s predicted that there will be about 47,000 new cases of skin cancer in men this year compared to the 30,000 expected for women. This is a cancer that doesn’t discriminate; any race, ethnicity, sex, or gender can be affected by skin cancer.
How can you protect your skin from carcinogenic dangers? First off, if you use tanning beds, please stop. You aren’t doing your body any favors by getting that tan. I love getting tan as much as the next person, but I also want to love my skin and live a long, healthy life. One way to do this is avoid lots of direct sun exposure during the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wearing sunscreen, even as low as SPF 15, has been proven to reduce the risks of developing Melanoma by 50%. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection. It’s important to remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied daily especially if you’re spending many hours in the sun. Our bodies sweat off some of the sunscreen and it also gets absorbed. Continuously reapplying increases the effectiveness of the sunscreen. If possible, wear light colored clothing that covers the majority of your skin. This provides another barrier between the sun’s rays and your skin. Always wear a hat as the head is one of the most sensitive parts of the body and is at a greater risk of getting sun burnt. If you’ve ever gotten a blistering sunburn, you’re already at a higher risk of developing Melanoma. It’s also important to wear sunglasses. We often forget how sensitive our eyes are. In case you weren’t aware, it is possible to burn your eyes! Never look directly into the sun and use eye drops if your eyes begin to become too dry.
Melanoma awareness is represented by the color black and black ribbons. During the month of May, take some time to either wear black or a ribbon to think about those who have been affected by this cancer. Also take time to check your skin for signs of any unusual skin coloring or changes in moles. If you notice these, call a dermatologist immediately. It’s best to have these checked out sooner rather than later. If you’d like to find more information about skin cancer, visit the Skin Cancer Foundation or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I wish you all a safe and wonderful summer!
