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Every day, 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer—the most common cancer in the U.S. Thankfully, early detection, regular screenings and proper skin hygiene have proven effective in the fight against skin cancer.
“Our skin’s DNA regulates the growth of our skin cells; however, repeated damage to the skin, like sunburns and excessive exposure to UV light, prevents the DNA from repairing these cells,” said Nandini Kulkarni, M.D., medical director of surgical oncology at Inspira Health. “Over time, this fractured DNA causes cells to mutate, become malignant and ultimately, turn into skin cancer.”
The earlier cancerous and precancerous skin cells are found, the greater the likelihood that the cancer will respond well to treatment. Here are four quick tips you can do to lower your risk.
Tip #1: Grab your gear
One of the easiest ways to protect your skin is to wear the right armor. “Think of the sun’s rays as arrows spiraling toward your skin. Without the proper gear, you are defenseless. But with the right equipment, the arrows will bounce right off of you,” said Dr. Kulkarni.
An easy way to think about what you need to protect your body against the sun is to remember, “slip, slop, slap and wrap”:
- Slip on a shirt
- Slop on sunscreen
- Slap on a hat
- Wrap on sunglasses
Tip #2: Choose the right sunscreen
When you buy sunscreen, your purchase shouldn’t be based on the brand name or smell, but its sun protection factor (SPF)—a number that indicates how well the sunscreen protects the skin against UV rays. “You want to use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day,” said Dr. Kulkarni.
Once you purchase the right sunscreen, remember:
- For extended periods of time outdoors, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going outside and reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating
Tip #3: Avoid tanning beds
Tanning increases your risk of skin cancer: Those who use a tanning bed before they are 35 years of age are 59 percent more likely to develop melanoma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. “There is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan,” said Dr. Kulkarni.
Tanning indoors may seem appealing, but before you commit, remember this:
- Tanning beds cause more than 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the United States
- Women under the age of 30 who tan indoors are six times as likely to develop skin cancer
Tip #4: Schedule and complete your routine skin exams
Monthly self-exams, as well as annual skin exams by your doctor, are critical to skin health. “Look for skin growths like freckles or moles, a skin wound that isn’t healing or noticeable changes to existing freckles or moles,” said Dr. Kulkarni.
Looking for skin cancer symptoms is as easy as ABC, 1-2-3. Specifically for melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, pay attention to the ABCDEs:
- Asymmetry: If you draw a line in the center of the mole, are the sides uneven?
- Border: Is the border of your mole uneven?
- Color: Is your mole a variety of colors?
- Diameter: Is your mole longer than 6 millimeters (the size of an eraser on a pencil)?
- Evolution: Is your mole changing size, shape or color?
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, talk to your doctor. Additionally, if you have high-risk skin cancer characteristics like blue or green eyes, blond or red hair, or a personal or family history of skin cancer, you may benefit from more frequent check-ins with your provider.
Remember to love the skin you’re in by checking in with your doctor whenever you have a question. No concern is too small when it comes to skin cancer.
Inspira Health is a high reliability organization (HRO), which means safety is the top priority for patients and staff. To make an appointment, call 1-800-INSPIRA.
