The sun brightens our moods and the sky, nurtures plants and wildlife and creates energy and warmth. But these powerful rays can also cause sunburn, premature aging and most importantly skin cancer, which is why the medical community has teamed up to promote UV Safety Awareness in July.
Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the naked eye and comes from the sun and artificial sources like tanning beds. Both UVA and UVB rays can be harmful to your skin.
Consider these facts and stats from the Skin Cancer Foundation:
- The vast majority of melanomas are caused by the sun - one study found that about 86 percent of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun;
- On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if they have had more than five sunburns;
- More people develop skin cancer because of indoor tanning than develop lung cancer because of smoking;
- About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun;
- Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer.
And since UV rays are just as harmful on cloudy days as on sunny days, UV prevention is a year-round concern.
But the good news: Skin cancer is one of the preventable types of cancer.
7 ways to prevent skin cancer
- The variety of sunscreen products can be overwhelming, with sprays, sticks, creams, gels roll-ons and lotions (light, thick, gel, scented, invisible, whitish) that are marketed to today’s consumers. Whatever you pick make sure the product has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, broad-spectrum protection (against UVA and UVB rays) and is water resistant.
Other sunscreen recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) include: apply sunscreen every day on skin not covered by clothing if you will be outside; apply to skin 15 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating; to protect your lips, apply a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher; after three years sunscreens have lost some of its strength and should be discarded; higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun's UVB rays but doesn’t mean you can stay outside longer without reapplying.
- Sun-protective clothing is also ubiquitous, from swimsuits to dresses, shirts, shorts and hats. For more effective sun protection, the AAD recommends selecting clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label. A fabric must have a UPF of 50 to qualify for The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. If general, dark or bright colors keep UV rays from reaching your skin by absorbing them rather than allowing them to penetrate and offer better protection than lighter shades.
- Speaking of hats, don’t forget to wear one and even better a wide-brimmed hat with a UPF 50. “As a physical blocker, hair does help shield the scalp from some of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can lead to skin cancer. However, you need more protection than that — especially where you part your hair and if your hair is thin or you have bald spots. I often see skin cancers on my patients’ scalps, and I tell them how important it is to take extra precautions,” writes dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. If a hat is not available or practical find a sunscreen product specially formulated for the hair, part and scalp or use a stick sunscreen.
- The sun’s UV rays can also damage our eyes, especially eyelids, which is why wearing a protective pair of sunglasses is important. According to John Hopkins Medicine, buy sunglasses with 95%–100% UV protection or a “UV 400” sticker and avoid yellow lenses, which provide less protection. “Wearing sunglasses as frequently as possible from a young age is key to minimizing UV damage to the eye and surrounding tissues,” writes John Hopkins optometrist Dr. Bryce St Clair. And consider oversized or wraparound sunglasses for more protection.
- There is no such thing as a safe tanning bed. “The evidence that indoor tanning dramatically increases your risk of getting skin cancer is so strong that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires warning labels on all indoor tanning equipment,” AAD explains.
- Sometimes we forget the obvious – seek shade whenever possible, be it a beach umbrella or shaded bench.'
- And finally do regular skin checks and if you find anything unusual (new or changing moles, or spots that are red, scaly or bleeding) make an appointment with a dermatologist. Regardless, see your dermatologist annually for a skin check.