Save Your Skin

As the Midwest was showered with a seemingly unending barrage of rain in June that had some expecting an ark to float down Highway 42, worries about sun exposure were far from most minds. In fact, most were begging to see the sun at all.

But in a world of sun-worshipers, and in a county where fun in the sun is the reward for a winter spent in gray, it’s as important as ever that revelers take precautions against skin cancer, one of the most common cancers and one that afflicts people of all ages.

In the heart of summer, it’s a good time to pause and take stock of your most exposed asset, your skin. The National Cancer Institute Web site has a great database of cancer information, and here we include a tiny fraction as a primer for detecting, and more importantly, preventing, skin cancer.

Prevention

If you can’t pull yourself from the sun’s lure there are several actions you can take to reduce the risk of melanoma caused by UV radiation.

• Avoid exposure to the midday sun (from 10 am to 4 pm) whenever possible. When your shadow is shorter than you are, remember to protect yourself from the sun with shade and/or sunscreen.

• If you must be outside, wear long sleeves, long pants, and a hat with a wide brim.

• Protect yourself from UV radiation that can penetrate light clothing, windshields, and windows.

• Remember, it’s not just direct sun exposure that can hurt you. Protect yourself from UV radiation reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice.

• Wear sunscreen, especially one that reflects, absorbs, and/or scatters both types of ultraviolet radiation. These sunscreen products will be labeled with “broad-spectrum coverage.” Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF). The higher the SPF, the more sunburn protection is provided. Sunscreens with an SPF value of 2 to 11 provide minimal protection against sunburns. Sunscreens with an SPF of 12 to 29 provide moderate protection. Those with an SPF of 30 or higher provide the most protection against sunburn.

• Wear sunglasses that have UV-absorbing lenses. The label should specify that the lenses block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Sunglasses can protect both the eyes and the skin around the eyes.

Taking Stock of Your Risk

If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you’re at increased risk of contracting skin cancer.

1. Do you have a family history of melanoma?

2. Have you had one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child or teenager?

3. Do you have fair skin and light eyes?

4. Do you frequently spend time in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm without skin protection?

5. Do you have a lot of freckles?

Artificial exposure to UV radiations, such as tanning booths, also increases your chances of contracting skin cancer.

Check Yourself

Melanomas usually don’t cause pain, so you must be pro-active in giving yourself examinations to detect possible cancerous moles.

Most people have 10 to 40 moles on their body, so the presence of a mole alone doesn’t indicate the presence of skin cancer. Melanoma usually appears as a change in size or color of an existing mole, but it also can appear as a new mole.

In men it generally shows up on the upper body between the shoulders and hips, on the head, or on the neck. In women it develops on the lower legs. Though less common in dark-skinned people, when it shows up it’s often found under fingernails or toenails, on the palms of the hands, or the soles of the feet.

Check for anything new. When performing a self-examination you should check yourself from head to toe, including the back, scalp, between the buttocks, and the genital area. Pay special attention to fingernails and toenails, and enlist the help of a friend or family member to check hard-to-see areas such as your back and scalp.

Look for a new, abnormal looking mole or a change in the size, shape, color, or texture of an existing mole.

Some find it helpful to record the dates of your exams and keep notes about the condition of your skin. If you find something unusual, see a doctor immediately – melanoma treatment is very effective if the problem is detected early, and a biopsy is the only way to make definite diagnosis.

For more information visit the Melanoma Patients’ Information Page at http://www.mpip.org or the National Cancer Institute at http://www.cancer.gov.