Golden, bronzed, sun-kissed skin paints a picture of an attractive and glowing person, right? Maybe, on the surface, but dig deeper and it will equal premature aging of the skin and risk for skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one person dies every hour from skin cancer. More than half of all new cancers are skin cancers. One in five Americans will get skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. Skin cancer is extremely prevalent. The good news is there are preventive measures that can be taken.
THE SUN IS NOT YOUR SKIN’S FRIEND — LEARN TO PROTECT IT Your skin shields the rest of the body from harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays the sun emits. The amount of UV light reaching the earth is increasing with the depletion of the ozone layer. The biggest step you can take to prevent skin damage is to protect yourself from the sun.
Year-round sun protection is important. Even when you can’t see the sun, UV rays can still harm you. When outdoors, wear sunscreen at least SPF 15 (Sun Protection Factor). Overlake Hospital dermatologist, Darrell J. Fader, M.D., suggests buying sunscreen with the highest protection at the lowest cost. Dr. Fader recommends applying sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside. Then after an hour outdoors, apply sunscreen again to seal it into your skin. Reapply sunscreen more often if you perspire greatly or are in the water. Pay special attention to the areas of your body that are most exposed to the sun. The head, neck,
arms, legs and the backs of hands are areas most susceptible to skin damage. Apply sunscreen liberally, uniformly and frequently. UV rays can penetrate many types of clothing. The hours UV rays are most harmful is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Avoid any unnecessary sun exposure during peak hours.
KNOW WHAT’S NORMAL Regular examination of your skin is also a good prevention practice. Skin cancer is almost always curable if caught in its early stage. Examine your skin once a month. Take note of blemishes on your skin, so that abnormalities can be monitored. Know the patterns of moles, freckles and other marks on your skin so you will notice when there are changes. Seek a physician if you notice any abnormality. For some, the “ABCD” rule helps to determine an abnormal mole.
A: asymmetry—one half of the mole doesn’t match the other half. B: border—the edge of the mole is ragged or notched. C: color—the color of the mole is not the same all over or it changes colors. D: diameter—the mole is wider than one-quarter inch.
HELPFUL WEB SITES
Skin Cancer Foundation www.skincancer.org Increases public and professional awareness about the prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancer.
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org The American Cancer Society is committed to fighting cancer through balanced programs of research, education, patient services, advocacy and rehabilitation.
National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov Coordinates and supports research, training, health information dissemination and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.
EARLY DETECTION According to J. Walter Smith, M.D., and oncologist at Overlake Hospital, most skin cancers are cured with surgical resection if detected early. There are three types of skin cancers: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Squamous and basal cell carcinomas are mainly caused by extensive exposure to the sun. It usually occurs on parts of the body that are most exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, bald scalp, hands, shoulders, arms and back. It usually appears as non-healing irritated reddish skin. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas rarely ever spread and are almost always cured with surgical resection. Melanoma can also be linked to chronic exposure to the sun. However, genetics is also a risk factor for melanoma. Melanoma usually appears as an abnormal black or dark- brown blemish. People who have a lot of moles on their bodies may be at a higher risk for melanoma. The high concentration of cell
population in moles increases the risk for melanoma. Melanoma is a much more aggressive cancer than squamous and basal cell carcinomas. If detected early, melanoma is usually cured through surgical resection. However, if melanoma has spread to other parts of the body it is treated with chemotherapy and immuno-
therapy. Once the melanoma has spread it is rarely ever cured.
Skin damage is a very serious issue. The damage is avoidable. So, why not avoid it? Protect yourself from the sun. Don’t buy into the social desirability of a tan. There is no such thing as a safe tan. Learn about your skin. Examine your skin regularly for abnormalities. Protect yourself. It could save your life.
Overlake Hospital Medical Center is a not-for-profit regional medical center offering a range of advanced
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