May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
We are all wishing to be under the summer sun right about now. After being stuck at home for an extended period of time, we are itching to leave our homes and enjoy the sunshine. While it’s great to breathe in the fresh air and bask in the sun, it is also important to protect yourself from the damage the sun can cause. By taking a few easy steps every day, you can decrease your risk of skin cancer significantly.
Skin cancer is America’s most common cancer with more than five million cases diagnosed every year. That estimates to one in five Americans developing skin cancer during their life, and it approximates to 9,500 people diagnosed with skin cancer daily in the United States. These shocking statistics sadly lead to about 20 Americans dying from melanoma every day. It is extremely important to stay aware and protect yourself and your family.
The skin cancer statistics may be scary but being safe in the sun is simple.
- During the day, especially from 10 am to 2 pm, stay in the shade.
- It can be tempting to lay in the sun’s warm rays during this time, but even just one bad sunburn can nearly double the chance of developing melanoma later in life.
- Use clothing and accessories to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
- Wearing a light-weight long-sleeve shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection will keep your skin covered while you take in the sun’s warmth, and they will give you a reason to do some more online shopping (hello, new outfit and accessories!).
- Stay away from sun lamps and tanning beds.
- You may get a great golden color, but your tan is a response to UV ray damage.
- Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on any skin not covered by clothing.
- Often, using a water-resistant sunscreen is best. It is also important to reapply every two hours or after you swim or sweat.
- Be extra vigilant around sand and water.
- Both sand and water reflect the sun’s rays, which will increase your chance of sunburn.
These five easy steps will keep you and your family safe from the sun.
Along with the listed precautions, you should also be doing regular skin checks. Ask a partner to help you check in hard to see spots, like your back. When you are doing your checks, you should follow the ABCDEs.
- A is for asymmetry, check if one half of the mole does not match the other.
- B is for borders, see if the border is irregular.
- C is for color, look to see if the color varies across the spot.
- D is for diameter, measure if the spot is greater than 6 mm, although some melanomas are less than 6 mm.
- E is for evolving, notice if the spot is changing in color, size, or shape.
The chart below is a useful tool to use during your skin checks – it may even be worth printing out and keeping in your bathroom! Even during this unprecedented time, it is important to keep up with your skincare and contact a dermatologist if you notice anything concerning on your skin.
Image source: https://www.skinlaser.com/abcs -skin-cancer/
Keep you and your family safe this summer by following our four simple steps and doing regular skin checks. Protecting yourself from the sun is simple and incredibly important. Share this information with your loved ones to keep them safe, as well!
(Images not internally sourced are from canva.com)
