I am fortunate to have grown up in a beach town. Every summer (and by summer I mean as soon as the sun broke through the clouds, no matter what time of year it happened to be), my friends and I would spend hours lying in the sun, coating ourselves with baby oil or Hawaiian Tropic (red label, of course). Sunscreen was for dorks, and we sported beautiful, golden tans for months on end. Although I wouldn’t trade those days for anything, we are now paying the price for all that sun exposure. At best, we are wrinkling prematurely and getting those lovely “sun spots” on our skin; at worst, we are facing some form of skin cancer.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 20% of all Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. 13 million Americans have had some sort of non-melanoma skin cancer, such as basal or squamous cell carcinoma. More than 800,000 have survived melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The rate of melanoma is on the rise even among adolescents. Pediatric melanoma increased by 2% each year from 1973-2009. With all the knowledge consumers have at their disposal, why are the instances of cancer still on the rise? The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that skin cancer is a lifestyle disease, meaning we can do many things to help prevent a skin cancer diagnosis:
- Stay indoors or in the shade during the hours of 10am-4pm, when the sun’s harmful rays are at their strongest. A basic rule of thumb is that if your shadow is shorter than you are, UV rays are more intense.
- Avoid sunburn! Just five in a lifetime can double the risk of melanoma, and one severe burn as a child could double an adult’s likelihood of developing melanoma later in life. Children six months and older can tolerate sunscreen, but should still remain out of the sun and protected by shade or clothing. Newborns should never be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.
- Do not use tanning booths! According to the Food and Drug Administration, in July of 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that UV tanning beds or booths emit more UV radiation than previously thought. In fact, artificial tanning beds were elevated into the highest cancer risk category: “carcinogenic to humans.” In past years, indoor tanning units were categorized as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” The FDA also suggests that using tanning beds more than once a month can increase the chances of developing melanoma by 55%.
- One full ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen should be applied to all sun exposed areas at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply another full ounce to all exposed areas every two hours and after excessive sweating or swimming. Be sure the sunscreen is broad spectrum, meaning it protects from both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. An SPF of 30 is adequate; any benefits of an SPF higher than 30 are incremental. Just be sure you use enough for adequate coverage, and reapply!
- See your dermatologist every year for skin exams, and do self-exams once a month. Remember to look for the ABCDE’s of early detection: if a mole is Asymmetrical, has irregular Borders or varying Colors, is large in Diameter (larger than a pencil eraser), or is Evolving (changing) in size in appearance, you should have it checked by a dermatologist. Early detection can save your life and can minimize far more invasive medical intervention like surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
If you feel too pasty-looking without a tan, get a spray tan or use a self-tanner. With the high-quality self-tanners on the market today, it isn’t difficult to get a glowing tan without all the risks inherent in sun worship. For a special occasion, go to a professional spray tanner, who can use their expertise in contouring to give you six-pack abs or a thinner waistline. That’s something the sun will never be able to equal!