Skin Cancer Awareness

Sneak preview

Sunshine and a heat wave made a sneak preview in many parts of the country, signaling that we are soon to be exposed to increasing hours of sunlight in springtime and summer. While sun lovers delight in this idea, awareness of the consequences of sun exposure and how it relates to skin cancer must be known. There is a correlation between sun exposure and the development of many types of skin cancer. Per Illinois Department of Public Health, more than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.

Skin cancer breakdown

Skin cancers are generally split into two categories. The two major groups are non-melanoma and melanoma. Non-melanoma includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cells. These are common cancers of the skin. Melanoma is essentially less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but it is considered more serious.

UV rays pose health risk

Skin cancer most often develops on skin that gets sun exposure, so it’s important to understand ways to prevent and recognize signs of skin cancer. A proven way to prevent some types of skin cancer involves protecting your skin. This means avoiding overexposure to the sun year-round. Wearing sunblock and avoiding Ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) emitted from the sun and from artificial sources (like tanning beds) is crucial. Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are caused by UV radiation, though other risk factors can exist.

UV radiation

UV radiation is broken down into three types: Ultraviolet A (UVA), Ultraviolet B (UVB), and Ultraviolet C (UVC). These classifications are based on their wavelengths. Per the National Center for Environmental Health Home, as shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost all the UV radiation that reaches earth is UVA, but some UVB can too. UVA is more constant throughout the year and penetrates deeper into the skin.

Understanding risks

There are some high-risk groups for developing skin cancer to include too much exposure to UV radiation, having fair skin, freckling, or red or blonde hair, having certain types of moles, exposure to chemicals, radiation, age, gender (males are more likely to get skin cancer than women), and family history. Still, skin cancer can happen to anyone – thus it’s important to follow physician’s orders for managing sun exposure and protecting the skin from an early age.  

Benefits of sunshine

Some sunlight can be good for us as it helps the body produce vitamin D, an essential vitamin for human health. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends minimal amounts of sun exposure (5 to 15 minutes of sun exposure 2 to 3 times a week.) Since vitamin D is needed to help the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food, and it assists in bone development, it’s important to talk to your doctor about maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels for your health while limiting sun exposure.

Let’s explore more

Like most cancers, early detection and treatment is important and can help save lives.  It is worth noting that people should do periodic self-body checks and visit their doctor regularly for skin care evaluation. Understand that it is not a good idea to solely self-diagnose. For suspicious moles or areas of the skin with noted changes, promptly seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner for proper diagnosis.

Your doctor is your best resource

A board-certified dermatologist is likely your best resource for health conditions to include skin cancer detection and treatment. Per AAD.org, “Often a dermatologist can treat an early skin cancer by removing the cancer and a bit of normal-looking skin. Given time to grow, treatment for skin cancer becomes more difficult.”  Again, early detection is key – so visit your dermatologist yearly or more as recommended by your family physician.

Trained experts  

Dermatologists train to recognize signs of skin cancer. They also perform essential diagnostic testing such as skin biopsies. In this procedure, suspicious growths are removed and tested. Samples are sent to a lab to determine the possible presence of and type of cancer. However, patients should stay in-tune with changes to their skin and report the presence of unusual sores, lumps, moles, blemishes, or markings. This includes new or changing moles that suddenly become elevated, red, ooze or bleed, feel scaly, or affect the surrounding skin.

What may help

Best ways to help protect skin are to avoid excessive exposure to the sun, apply sunscreen and lip balm liberally as directed by your doctor, shield your skin from direct sunlight exposure with clothing, sunglasses, and hats, and avoid sources of UV lighting that put your skin at risk.

For more info on the topic of skin cancer prevention, please visit the American Cancer Society.

This article is purely informational. It is not medically reviewed nor is it intended as a substitute for medical advice.