SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
With the warmer months fast approaching, it’s a great time to think about protecting our skin. While sun safety is important year-round – even during the winter months – we spend more time outdoors in the spring and summer, increasing our exposure to the sun’s direct ultraviolet (UV) rays.
What is skin cancer
Skin cancer develops when damage to skin cells – most often from UV exposure or tanning beds – cause those cells to grow abnormally and damage healthy tissue.
Where does skin cancer occur?
Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the body, but it’s most commonly found in areas that get the most sun exposure, such as the face, shoulders, chest, neck, arms, hands, back, and legs.
Most common types of skin cancer
There are three main types:
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
- Melanoma is the most serious type due to its ability to spread
The good news is that when caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable. However, melanoma is more dangerous and can be life-threatening if not detected early.
Checking your skin:
One simple way to monitor your skin at home is to follow the ABCDE rule for moles. If you notice any of these changes, it’s important to have your skin checked by a healthcare provider.
ABCDE GUIDE FOR CHECKING MOLES
- Asymmetry-One half of the mole does not match the other half.
- Border-Edges are irregular, ragged, blurred, or not clearly defined.
- Color-the color is not uniform and may include different shades of brown, black, tan or even red or white.
- Diameter-The spot is larger than about 6 mm (size pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller.
- Evolving-The mole is changing in size, shape, color or appearance-or it looks different from other moles.
How to protect yourself from UV Rays
The sun rays are strongest between 10 am to 4:00 pm, when possible:
- Seek shade
- Use sunscreen regularly
- Wear protective clothing, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, hat, and sunglasses.
UVA vs. UVB
- Ultraviolet A (UVA rays) contributes to skin aging,
- Ultraviolet B (UVB rays) causes skin damage from sunburns and plays a role in skin cancer development.
Choosing the right sunscreen
Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, that is water-resistant. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) measures how well the sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays. Sunscreen should be applied daily, even on cloudy days.
Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated.
A few simple habits-like using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and keeping an eye on changes in your skin-can go a long way. If something doesn’t look right, trust your instincts and have it checked. Early detection can make all the difference.
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*NOTE The information above was taken from various sources, to explain skin cancers and sun protection. This information is meant to be truthful, accurate & educational and not meant to misrepresent any article previously written and submitted by any organization. Informational ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Seek medical advice from your physician.
