The Skin You’re In
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Do you know how to keep yourself safe from the sun?
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it’s the most visible part of you. Exposed to the sun, the elements and other people’s eyes, it can take a lot of abuse. All the more reason to take careful care of it.
Throughout May, we observe Skin Cancer Awareness Month to bring attention to the most common cancer in America. Monday, May 5 is Melanoma Monday, an observance to bring more attention to the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma forms in the cells that give our skin its color, and is far more likely to spread than the other common forms of skin cancer.
Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can damage skin cells. The most common way to be exposed to UV rays is through sunlight, tanning beds and sunlamps.
To commemorate Skin Cancer Awareness Month, here are some ways to keep yourself safe.
Time it right. When venturing outdoors, be aware of when the sunlight is the strongest and try to avoid direct exposure to the sun at its height, says the Skin Cancer Foundation. The sun’s rays are typically at their strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with their height reached around noon. If possible, keep the bulk of your outdoor activities in the earlier mornings or later afternoons.
Avoid tanning. Tanning beds can increase your chance of developing melanoma before the age of 35 by over 75 percent. The “glow” that tanning gives your skin is a sign that it is taking damage and changing in the sun, and this damage is cumulative—the more you tan, the worse it gets.
Reach for sunscreen. Every bad sunburn you get increases your chance of skin cancer. (Studies have found that five or more bad sunburns between ages 15 and 20 can increase your melanoma risk by 80 percent.) Apply a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even if you aren’t planning on spending much time outside. If you are, make sure you use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher to all parts of your body and reapply every two hours or so.
See a dermatologist. See something different with your skin, particularly a new or changing mole or dark spot? It’s probably time to see a professional.
“In general, as we get older, people get new growths, and most of those growths are probably going to be normal,” says Michael Wiederkehr, M.D., a dermatologist at the Center for Dermatology & Skin Surgery in Paramus. “Unfortunately, some of them aren’t.” These skin changes can be a sign of skin cancer. Dr. Wiederkehr specifically flags growths that are new, scabby, bleeding or sensitive, particularly if it’s on sun-exposed areas such as the face or neck, as being a sign to see a doctor.
Want to see the rest of Dr. Wiederkehr’s advice? Check out the NEW issue of BERGEN for all his comments.
