Skin Cancer: Protecting Your Skin
Introduction
Excessive exposure to the sun and its
ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin cancer. You can
reduce your risk for skin cancer by:
- Protecting your skin, and that of your family
members, from UV radiation.
- Performing frequent
skin self-examinations.
- Finding out whether you have an increased
risk for
melanoma and other skin cancers.
The sunlight that reaches the earth has ultraviolet A and B
(UVA and UVB) rays. These ultraviolet (UV) rays are the main causes of damage
to the skin from the sun. Some people are more susceptible than others to skin
damage. Certain factors may mean that you have an increased risk for
skin cancer:
- A personal history of skin cancer
- A
family member with skin cancer
- More than 50
moles
- Abnormal moles (atypical moles), or moles larger than
6 mm (0.2 in.), about the size
of a pencil eraser
- A weakened
immune system
- Severe sunburns—even one—as
a child, or sunburns as an adult
- Living in a sunny or high-altitude
climate or near the equator
- Fair skin that burns or freckles easily
and does not tan
Sunburns in childhood are the most damaging to the skin.
The earlier in life that you are burned by the sun, the greater the risk of
developing skin cancer later in life.
Some people believe that
tanning protects against a sunburn. But the amount of sun exposure needed
to get a tan can by itself cause excessive skin damage and outweigh any
possible benefit.
Test Your Knowledge
Your chances of getting skin cancer can be decreased
by limiting exposure to the sun.
-
True
This answer is correct.
The primary risk factor for developing skin
cancer is excessive exposure to the sun.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
The primary risk factor for developing skin
cancer is excessive exposure to the sun.
-
One sunburn during childhood may cause skin cancer
years later.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Even one severe, blistering sunburn during
childhood increases the risk of skin cancer, and every sunburn during life
increases that risk.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Even one severe, blistering sunburn during
childhood increases the risk of skin cancer, and every sunburn during life
increases that risk.
-
Continue to Why?
By protecting your skin, you may be able to prevent skin cancer or find it early when it can be more easily treated.
- Exposure to the sun is the most common cause of
skin cancer. Sunburns do the most damage, but sustained time in the sun
increases the risk of skin damage and mole growth.
- Most early skin
cancers are easily seen on the skin and may be curable if treated
early.
- Some people have a higher risk for skin cancer. If
you are aware that you have a higher risk, have regular skin exams and take
steps to protect your skin.
Test Your Knowledge
Early skin cancer can be spotted on the
skin.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Early skin cancer is often apparent when a mole
changes slightly, such as a new black area, itching, or scaling, or blurred
edges.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Early skin cancer is often apparent when a mole
changes slightly, such as a new black area, itching, or scaling, or blurred
edges.
-
Continue to How?
You can take steps to protect your skin from UV radiation. While sunscreen plays a vital role
in protecting your skin from UV radiation, it can't prevent skin damage if you
are exposed to the sun's rays for long periods of time. Experts recommend that
you use multiple methods to fully protect your skin.
Preventing skin cancer isn't always possible. But being alert for new spots or skin growths and having your doctor check your skin regularly may help find skin cancer early when it can be more easily treated.
Protect your skin
- Stay out of the sun during
the peak hours of UV radiation, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wear
protective clothing:
- Wide-brimmed hats that protect the face
and neck
- Tightly-woven clothing made of thick material, such as
unbleached cotton, polyester, wool, or silk
- Dark clothing with dyes
added that help absorb UV radiation
- Loose-fitting long-sleeved
clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible
- Clothing that
has
sun protection factor (SPF) in the fabric that does
not wash out
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher,
summer and winter, on both cloudy and clear days:
- SPF of 11 offers minimal
protection.
- SPF of 12 to 29 offers moderate
protection.
- SPF of 30 and above offers high protection.
- Apply sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB
radiation to all exposed skin, including lips, ears, back of the hands, and
neck. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going in the sun, and reapply it every
2 hours and after swimming, exercising, or sweating.
- Wear
wraparound sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB
radiation.
- Be careful when you are on sand, snow, or water, because
these surfaces can reflect 85% of the sun's rays.
- Avoid artificial
sources of UVA radiation, including sunlamps and tanning booths. Like the sun,
they can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
A child's skin is more sensitive to the sun than an
adult's skin and is more easily burned. Babies younger than 6 months should
always be completely shielded from the sun. Children 6 months and older should
have their skin protected from too much sun exposure.
Know the ABCDEs of early detection
Skin cancer
can be cured if found and treated early. If it is not discovered or treated
until too late, it can spread throughout the body and may be fatal. Skin cancer
often appears on the trunk of men and on the legs of women. Learn your ABCDEs,
the changes in a mole or skin growth that are warning signs of melanoma:
-
Asymmetry
: One half doesn't match the
other half.
-
Border irregularity
: The edges are ragged, notched, or
blurred.
-
Color
: The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan,
brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue add to the mottled
appearance. Color may spread from the edge of a mole into the surrounding
skin.
-
Diameter
: The size of the mole is greater than
6 mm (0.2 in.), or about the
size of a pencil eraser.
-
Evolution
: There is a change in the size,
shape, symptoms (such as itching or tenderness), surface (especially bleeding),
or color of a mole.
Get to know your skin
Skin cancer, including
melanoma, is curable if spotted early. A careful skin exam may identify
suspicious growths that may be cancer or growths that may develop into skin
cancer (precancers).
-
Examine your skin
once every month. Get
to know your moles and birthmarks. And look for any abnormal skin growth and
any change in the color, shape, size, or appearance of a skin
growth.
- Check for any area of skin that does not heal after an
injury.
- Have your
doctor check your skin during any other health exams. Most experts
recommend having your skin examined regularly.
- Bring any
suspicious skin growths or changes in a mole to the attention of your doctor.
Test Your Knowledge
A suntan is a sign of good health.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
While a suntan may present the image of an
active outdoors person, it also damages and ages the skin and may increase the
number of moles. Moles are not normally present at birth—they begin appearing
during childhood and are caused by sun exposure. A high number of moles
increases the risk of skin cancer.
-
False
This answer is correct.
While a suntan may present the image of an
active outdoors person, it also damages and ages the skin and may increase the
number of moles. Moles are not normally present at birth—they begin appearing
during childhood and are caused by sun exposure. A high number of moles
increases the risk of skin cancer.
-
You can avoid the damaging rays from the sun by
getting a tan in a tanning booth.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
Tanning booths and sunlamps may be sources of
UV radiation that are just as dangerous as that from the sun.
-
False
This answer is correct.
Tanning booths and sunlamps may be sources of
UV radiation that are just as dangerous as that from the sun.
-
If you are going to be out in the sun for a lengthy
period of time, sunscreen is the best protection for your skin.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
While sunscreen plays a vital role in
protecting your skin from UV radiation, it cannot prevent skin damage if you
are exposed to the sun's rays for long periods of time. Experts recommend that
you use multiple methods to fully protect your skin, such as avoiding the sun,
seeking shade, wearing protective clothing (long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed
hats), and applying sunscreen.
-
False
This answer is correct.
While sunscreen plays a vital role in
protecting your skin from UV radiation, it cannot prevent skin damage if you
are exposed to the sun's rays for long periods of time. Experts recommend that
you use multiple methods to fully protect your skin, such as avoiding the sun,
seeking shade, wearing protective clothing (long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed
hats), and applying sunscreen.
-
It is more damaging to the skin to experience long
hours in the sun than to have briefer exposures when the sun is particularly
intense.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
Any exposure to the sun's rays while they are
most intense can severely damage your skin and make further damage more likely
with the next UV exposure.
-
False
This answer is correct.
Any exposure to the sun's rays while they are
most intense can severely damage your skin and make further damage more likely
with the next UV exposure.
-
Continue to Where?
Now that you know how to
protect your skin from UV radiation and skin cancer, it's a good time to do a
thorough
skin self-exam. Then you will be ready to talk with your doctor
or a dermatologist about your skin's health, particularly if you notice any
suspicious growths.
Return to topic:
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Amy McMichael, MD - Dermatology |
|
Last Revised
|
October 12, 2012 |
Last Revised:
October 12, 2012