Skin Cancer Is in Style This Summer. Protect Yourself to Buck the Trend.

<p>Bad news for sun lovers, but skin cancers are becoming more common. This isn’t to say we should all hide away for the summer, but it does mean we need to get more serious about protection against harmful UV rays. </p> <p>Skin cancer is already the most commonly diagnosed kind of cancer, so we can’t afford to ignore the realities of baking ourselves in the sun on a regular basis. Below we’ll explore the different types of skin cancer, how to stay safe, and why early detection is so important. </p> <h2>Understanding skin cancer</h2> <p>Skin cancer comes about from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells, often due to DNA damage caused by UV radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. There are three main types of skin cancer:</p> <ul> <li>Basal cell carcinoma</li> <li>Squamous cell carcinoma</li> <li>Melanoma</li> </ul> <h3>UV Safety Month</h3> <p>July is UV Safety Month, a time to educate the public about the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and share strategies for protecting your skin from exposure. </p> <figure><img src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/RoenKbtadv/original.jpg" alt width="686" height="361" /> <figcaption>Protect All the Skin You’re In: Statistics <em>Source: www.cdc.gov</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Why has skin cancer risen?</h3> <p>Although sunscreen is critical for your safety and people have been using it more than in previous decades, rates of skin cancer have gone up. This seems paradoxical, but researchers suspect that there are multiple reasons for this.</p> <p>First, we’ve gotten better at detecting skin cancer, and people are living longer, which increases their risk. Other theories relate to the depletion of the ozone layer, which offers a protective effect against UV rays, and a failure to use broad-spectrum sunscreens and apply them correctly.</p> <h2>Breakdown of the major types of skin cancer</h2> <p>Most skin cancers start in the upper layer of the skin (the epidermis) via basal cells, squamous cells, or melanocytes.</p> <h3>Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)</h3> <p>BCC is the most common type of skin cancer. Around 8 in 10 cases are basal cell carcinomas.</p> <p>BCC starts in the basal cell layer, which is the lowest part of the epidermis. You’ll typically find it in areas that get the most sun exposure like the face, head, neck, and arms. BCC usually grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but it can invade nearby areas if left untreated, including bone or other tissues below the skin.</p> <p>BCC needs to be removed completely or else there is a chance it will recur, i.e., the cancer will return in the same place on the skin. It often looks like a waxy bump, a flesh-colored lesion, or a sore that bleeds. </p> <h3>Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)</h3> <p>The second most common kind of skin cancer, SCC usually appears as a firm, red nodule or a flat lesion with a scaly, crusty surface. SCC can grow rapidly and may spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. </p> <p>SCC also likes to show up on sun-exposed areas like the face, neck, lips, arms, and ears, but it can arise in scars or skin sores as well. Normally, SCC can be removed completely (or treated another way), but the problem with it is that it’s much more likely to grow into deeper layers of the skin or other areas of the body than BCC.</p> <h3>Melanoma</h3> <p>Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, but it’s less common. It often resembles a mole and can be black, brown, or skin-colored. </p> <p>Melanoma can spread to other organs and is potentially life-threatening if it’s not caught and dealt with early enough. Although melanoma can begin anywhere on the skin, it’s more commonly found on the chest and back in men and legs in women. </p> <p>Melanoma is about 20 times more common in white people than in Black people. Increased epidermal melanin is thought to offer greater protection by filtering twice as much UV radiation. </p> <h2>Risk factors</h2> <p>Several factors put you at higher risk for developing skin cancer:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Excessive UV exposure.</strong> Too much sunbathing or tanning bed use increases your risk.</li> <li><strong>Fair skin.</strong> Less melanin offers less protection from UV radiation.</li> <li><strong>Family history.</strong> Some people have a genetic predisposition that puts them at greater risk. Those with fair skin and northern European heritage are at greatest risk. </li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong>Age.</strong> Risk increases with age.</li> <li><strong>Immune suppression.</strong> Weakened immune systems due to medical conditions or treatments.</li> <li><strong>Moles.</strong> The more moles on your body, the higher your risk of melanoma.</li> </ul> <h2>Prevention strategies</h2> <p>More than anything, we all need to be on the ball about sunscreen. Make sure yours mentions “broad spectrum” on the cover and has an SPF of at least 30. Use it even on cloudy days; it’s good protection for your skin in terms of aging as well as against skin cancer. </p> <p>Exposed skin is skin put at risk. Wear long sleeves, hats, and sunglasses to shield your skin from the sun. Seek shade to avoid direct exposure, particularly in the middle of the day (10 am to 4 pm) when UV rays are strongest. This matters even during winter and especially when you’re at high altitudes, as UV rays are more powerful the higher you go. </p> <p>Tanning beds are a fashion disaster that should’ve lived and died in the 80s. It’s best to avoid them altogether because artificial UV radiation is just as harmful as natural sunlight. </p> <figure><img src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/koXkPYiEA8/original.png" alt width="628" height="813" /> <figcaption>The Truth of Tanning <em>Source: CDC/ Divisions of Cancer Prevention and Control/Wikimedia</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Prevention counts on checkups, so make sure to perform monthly self-examinations and schedule annual checkups with a dermatologist. </p> <h3>Early detection is vital</h3> <p>Effectively treating skin cancer relies on catching it early enough. Be vigilant for changes in your skin, be it new growths, sores that don’t heal, or changes in existing moles. Follow the ABCDE rule to identify potential melanomas:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Asymmetry.</strong> One side is different from the other.</li> <li><strong>Border.</strong> Irregular or poorly defined edges.</li> <li><strong>Color.</strong> Varied shades of tan, brown, and black (sometimes white, red, or blue).</li> <li><strong>Diameter.</strong> Melanomas are usually >6mm (the size of a pencil eraser).</li> <li><strong>Evolving.</strong> Any change in size, shape, color, or symptom (e.g., itching or bleeding).</li> </ul> <p>If you notice anything suspicious, contact a dermatologist right away. Treatments include surgical removal, radiation, chemotherapy, and new targeted therapies and immunotherapies, particularly for advanced melanomas. </p><h2>More on Skin Cancer</h2><ul><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/vm9nn6dtgw-skin-cancer" target="_blank">Skin Cancer: Risk Factors, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/5mre7dduzw-skin-cancer-screening" target="_blank">Skin Cancer Screening</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/zjbx8dvs2w-skin-cancer-prevention" target="_blank">Skin Cancer (Melanoma and Nonmelanoma): Risk Factors and Prevention</a></li></ul>