Did you know that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States? According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 3.3 million people are diagnosed with it annually. Fortunately, it’s also one of the most preventable and highly treatable types of cancer when caught early.

The month of May is Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection month, which is why we’re breaking down the damage the sun can do to your skin and giving you some easy ways you can protect yourself in the sunny months ahead.

What can the sun do to your skin?

In general, sun exposure can cause:

• Premature aging of your skin such as: deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, red veins on your face, dark or discolored spots on your face
• Precancerous skin lesions that can evolve into skin cancer
• Eye damage leading to cataracts or painful eyes
• Skin cancer

Ways to Protect Your Skin

The Skin Cancer Foundation and the Mayo Clinic have several suggestions for protecting your skin and preventing skin cancer.

Stay away from sun exposure during the peak hours of the day, between 10:00am and 4:00pm. You might say, wait, that’s during the warmest and nicest part of the day! But, this is when the sun’s rays are the strongest. If you have to go out during this time, limit the amount of time you’re in the sun and stay in the shade when possible.

Use sunscreen frequently. The first thing you might think of for skin protection is sunscreen, which you probably use occasionally. However, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater that you apply 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours or more if you’re swimming or sweating.

Wear protective clothing. If you know you’re going to be out in direct sunlight, wear clothing like wide-brimmed hats, UV-blocking sunglasses, UV-protective shirts, dark clothing and tightly woven fabrics. You can find special outdoor gear that is designed to protect you from the sun.

Avoid burning. You’ve most likely experienced a sunburn before, and the painful red burning of your skin is a sign you’ve damaged your skin from the sun’s harmful radiation. If you feel your skin starting to burn, get out of the sunlight and into the shade.

Don’t go to tanning and UV tanning booths. Some people say they use tanning booths as a way to get a “base tan” so they don’t burn later. In a Prevention article, Dr. Turnham from the Melanoma Research Foundation said that, “[After someone goes to a tanning salon to get some ‘base color’] that person thinks they aren’t at risk for burns and they spend their time in the sun unprotected. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Any change in the skin color from tanning is a sign of UV radiation. In the end, damaged skin is still damaged skin.

Know what you need to do for babies and children. Newborns should stay out of the sun, and if they must be in the sun, should be in protective clothing. Sunscreen should be used on babies over the age of six months.

Examine your skin and see your physician. It’s hard to avoid sun exposure. So to make sure your skin is healthy, you should regularly do a self examination of your skin head-to-toe every month, and you should also see a health provider yearly to do an examination.  

Concerned about your skin? Contact the Family Health Clinic.

If during the examination of your skin, you come across a mole or area of skin that is concerning, make an appointment with one of our nurse practitioners. At the Family Health Clinic, our practitioners will be able to evaluate suspicious moles/lesions and refer you to a dermatologist if needed. Some of our nurse practitioners also do in office procedures for skin tag removal, wart removal, and skin biopsies.

We hope that you have a great time enjoying the summer weather, without putting your skin and yourself at risk for future complications!

Resources:

https://www.skincancer.org/prevention

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sunburn/symptoms-causes/syc-20355922

https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/a20444086/debunking-the-myth-of-the-base-tan/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sunburn/expert-answers/tanning/faq-20057866