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Protect
Yourself Against Skin Cancer
< June 11,
2002 > School is out and if it's time for your
family to hit the beach or pool, heed this important warning:
skin cancer is on the rise and is the most common cancer in the
United States. It is also one of the most preventable. But left
unchecked, skin cancer can be among the  deadliest.
Melanoma, the most serious
of the three types of skin cancer, is the fastest-rising form
of cancer in the United States. It causes 75 percent of the deaths
from skin cancer, and there will be approximately 53,600 new cases
of melanoma diagnosed this year. That is a 4 percent increase
over 2001, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
There will also be nearly one
million new cases this year of the highly curable but potentially
disfiguring basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the ACS
states in its 2002 "Facts and Figures" report.
To combat this alarming
rise in cancer cases and to better educate Americans about the
hazards of too much sun, May was declared "Skin Cancer Awareness
Month."
While it may seem obvious,
protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to reduce your
risk of skin cancer, dermatologists say.
"If you are fair-skinned,
work outdoors, play golf or tennis [or other outdoor sports] or
have a history of skin cancer, you should always protect yourself
from the sun," says Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, a New York City dermatologist.
Hats, preferably with
a 2-inch brim, UV-treated sunglasses, protective clothing, and
waterproof sun block are all invaluable, adds Dr. Debra Jaliman,
clinical instructor at New York City's Mount Sinai School of Medicine
and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Dermatology.
Look for a sun block
that protects against both ultraviolet-B rays (UVB) and ultraviolet-A
(UVA) rays. UVBs are short-wave solar rays that are considered
the primary cause of skin cancers. UVAs are long-wave rays that
cause wrinkling and aging of the skin, and are thought to interact
with UVBs to increase cancer risk.
"You want to block all
rays," says Jaliman, who recommends buying sun block with a minimum
sun protection factor (SPF) of 15.
However, not all sun
blocks are created equal, she adds.
Many sun blocks are
advertised as "broad spectrum," meaning they claim to offer protection
from both UVB and UVA rays, Jaliman says. "But the labels can
be very misleading," so make sure one of the main ingredients
is a strong blocking agent, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide,
she says.
It is also important
to wear protective clothing, she says. There are companies that
even manufacture clothing with an SPF of 4 or more. You do not
have to buy a whole new wardrobe, Jaliman says, "but you could
have one piece of clothing to wear at the beach all day."
Goldstein emphasizes
the importance of reapplying waterproof sun block if you are outdoors
for a long period of time.
"SPF 15 works for about
two hours," he says. "So if you're at the pool or beach, or playing
golf all day, you should reapply. I tell golfers to reapply sun
block after the first nine holes."
And dermatologists warn
the sun is most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Children, with their
sensitive skin, are particularly vulnerable to the sun. While
skin cancer is uncommon in children, the damage that leads to
it is accumulated in childhood. So, it is crucial that kids wear
plenty of sun block, as well as protective clothing, according
to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
"In the summer, kids
should wear hats and shirts when they're out of the pool, playing
in the sand," Goldstein says. "I lather my own kids up with SPF
30 at the pool."
And if you think tanning
salons, which are popular with teens and young adults, offer a
preemptive strike against skin cancer, think again. A recent Brown
University Medical School study found people who used tanning
salons when they were younger were nearly three times more likely
to get squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop
basal cell carcinoma than those who did not use tanning salons.
Dermatologists also
recommend annual examinations to check for unusual moles or precancerous
lesions. And these check-ups should be done by a dermatologist.
"If a gynecologist or
general practitioner looks at a skin lesion, you have a 50/50
chance of the correct diagnosis. But the accuracy level of a dermatologist's
diagnosis is 97 percent," Jaliman says.
You should also examine
yourself regularly for moles that change shape or color, or for
new moles or marks that appear and do not go away.
"I spend some time with
my patients teaching them how to look at moles, and they become
better participants in their own care," Jaliman says.
Always consult your
physician for more information.
American
Academy of Dermatology
American
Academy of Pediatrics
American
Cancer Society
American
Medical Association
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