Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Skin Cancer
There are more than a million new cases a year of all skin cancers. Women are affected more than men in all three categories:
Basal Cell Skin Cancer (the most common)
Squamous Cell
Melanoma
Skin Cancer is caused by both excessive UVB and UVA exposure. UVB is blamed more for sunburn, but both cause damage. UVA, the UV exposure you get in a tanning salon penetrates the skin deeper. It causes damage to the deeper tissue, prematurely ages the skin and possibly increases the risk for Melanoma as well as other skin cancers. Occasional intense UVA exposure (in a tanning booth) is much more damaging than long hours in the sun.
Whether you tan or burn, both represent your body’s injury response to Ultraviolet Radiation exposure. The injury response can then set off a series of changes that make you at risk for cancer in the future…sometimes as long as 30 or more years in the future.
Prevention and early detection can save your life.
1. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 and 4 when the UV rays are strongest. Remember it is important to set time limits for exposure not only at the beach or pool but on water, snow, cement and ice.
2. Use sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 that have protection against both UVA and UVB. Use it on all exposed skin, including your lips. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide products offer the best protection if you are sweating or swimming. Apply 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every few hours or more if swimming or sweating a lot.
3. Cover up. Slip on a long sleeve shirt, UV clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Prevent cataract and other eye pathology by wearing sunglasses.
Slip-Slop-Slap is the name for a health campaign in Australia exhorting people to "slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat" when they go out into the sun in order to prevent skin cancer. It is probably Australia's most recognizable health message. It’s a message we should adopt as our own.
4. Avoid excessive intense UVA exposure, as is tanning booths, without discussing it with your health care provider.
5. Check your skin regularly. Every three months or more if you are at increased risk. To detect melanomas or other skin cancers, use the A-B-C-D skin self-examination guide, adapted from the American Academy of Dermatology:
* A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves.
* B is for irregular border. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders — the characteristics of melanomas.
* C is for changes in color. Look for growths that have many colors or an uneven distribution of color.
Basal Cell Skin Cancer (the most common)
Squamous Cell
Melanoma
Skin Cancer is caused by both excessive UVB and UVA exposure. UVB is blamed more for sunburn, but both cause damage. UVA, the UV exposure you get in a tanning salon penetrates the skin deeper. It causes damage to the deeper tissue, prematurely ages the skin and possibly increases the risk for Melanoma as well as other skin cancers. Occasional intense UVA exposure (in a tanning booth) is much more damaging than long hours in the sun.
Whether you tan or burn, both represent your body’s injury response to Ultraviolet Radiation exposure. The injury response can then set off a series of changes that make you at risk for cancer in the future…sometimes as long as 30 or more years in the future.
Prevention and early detection can save your life.
1. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 and 4 when the UV rays are strongest. Remember it is important to set time limits for exposure not only at the beach or pool but on water, snow, cement and ice.
2. Use sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 that have protection against both UVA and UVB. Use it on all exposed skin, including your lips. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide products offer the best protection if you are sweating or swimming. Apply 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every few hours or more if swimming or sweating a lot.
3. Cover up. Slip on a long sleeve shirt, UV clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Prevent cataract and other eye pathology by wearing sunglasses.
Slip-Slop-Slap is the name for a health campaign in Australia exhorting people to "slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat" when they go out into the sun in order to prevent skin cancer. It is probably Australia's most recognizable health message. It’s a message we should adopt as our own.
4. Avoid excessive intense UVA exposure, as is tanning booths, without discussing it with your health care provider.
5. Check your skin regularly. Every three months or more if you are at increased risk. To detect melanomas or other skin cancers, use the A-B-C-D skin self-examination guide, adapted from the American Academy of Dermatology:
* A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves.
* B is for irregular border. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders — the characteristics of melanomas.
* C is for changes in color. Look for growths that have many colors or an uneven distribution of color.
