The best protection against skin cancer is to minimize sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you do go out in the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB), making sure to cover the head, lips, hands, neck, and ears. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing. Not only will this dramatically decrease your risk of skin cancer, but it will prevent other sun-damaging conditions, like wrinkles and actinic keratoses.
While everyone should minimize their exposure to the sun, fair-skinned people, outdoor workers, and residents of sunny climates should use particular caution.
Another effective weapon against skin cancer is regular self-exams of your skin. Get to know the landscape of your skin, and take an inventory of all moles.
Because skin cancer can resemble other skin conditions, be sure to tell your doctor about unusual skin changes or lesions, especially these:
- A sore that comes and goes but never completely heals
- A shiny bump or nodule, especially if it appears pearly or translucent (these can look brown or reddish and resemble a mole)
- A slightly raised pink growth with a crusted depression in the center, possibly with tiny blood vessels (capillaries) visible on the surface
- A patch of skin that is red or irritated, especially on the chest, shoulders, or limbs
- A white or yellow-ish waxy scar with poorly defined borders
If you have any risk factors, such as prolonged sun exposure, family history, or a past cancerous lesion, you may benefit from having your skin checked regularly by your doctor.
Tanning booths increase the risk of developing skin cancer, despite any claims of their being a safe alternative to natural sunlight. The skin doesn’t tan unless it is first damaged by UV radiation. Intentional tanning should be avoided like any health hazard, such as smoking.
Sunscreen Use
Despite what we know about the sun’s ability to damage our skin, rising rates of skin cancer and actinic keratoses indicate that more people than ever are spending too much time in the sun without sufficient protection. This protection can be as simple as using an effective sunscreen.
With significant advances in sunscreen formulations, not to mention lightweight lotions and improved fragrances, there’s no good excuse for not using sunscreen.
It may be useful to keep the following in mind:
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from BOTH UVA and UVB rays.
- UVA leads to AGING, and UVB leads to BURNING.
- The SPF rating on sunscreen only measures how well the sunscreen blocks UVB. It does not measure UVA protection. Unless the product label says it blocks UVA, it probably doesn’t.
- You won’t get a sunburn on dark days or through glass, because clouds and glass block UVB. But UVA penetrates both. So if you are driving in a car or working near a window, be sure to apply UVA protection to prevent premature aging of the skin.
- Look for these UVA-protective ingredients: avobenzone, oxybenzone, zinc oxide, and/or titanium dioxide. Brand names include Helioplex and Mexoryl.
Slather it on! Most people use only 1/4 of what is necessary to adequately cover their bodies.
- Use enough sunscreen to adequately cover all sun-exposed areas. Use one ounce (two tablespoons) to cover the entire body.
- An 8-ounce bottle should last for only 8 applications (or only two rounds for a family of four).
- Sunscreens should be applied a half hour before sun exposure because they need this time to interact with the skin to work sufficiently.
A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 is acceptable, but an SPF of 30 is preferred. For maximum protection look for an SPF of 50.
- Higher SPF sunscreens can be more expensive but provide better protection.
- The SPF number measures how long the product will protect you from UVB rays before it must be reapplied. Multiply the SPF number by the number of minutes you can normally stay out in the sun before getting sunburned. For instance, if your skin normally burns after 10 minutes in the midday sun, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will protect you for 10 minutes times 15, or a total of 150 minutes. After that time, it should be reapplied. Remember, this SPF rating measures only UVB protection.
Sunscreen Reapplication
- Reapply sunscreen regularly. Reapply immediately after swimming or sweating, even with so-called water-resistant brands.
- Recent reports have shown that the terms like water-resistant or waterproof are not reliable.
- The ultraviolet rays that can damage your skin can also destroy sunscreen so don’t rely on them to work all day.
Keep sunscreen in your car, purse, backpack, and sports bag, and with camping gear and gardening tools so you don’t forget to use it.
Sunscreen vs. Sunblock
Sunscreens use chemicals that interact with the skin. Sunblocks use inert substances, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, to physically block the sun’s rays. This makes them less likely to cause allergic reactions and they start working immediately once they are applied to the skin. This makes them useful options for children with sensitive skin or who are too impatient to wait before going out in the sun.
Sunblocks used to leave a thick white paste on the skin, but many have been reformulated to be nearly invisible.
Remember to protect your lips too, using lipstick or lip balm containing sunscreen.
Skin Self-Examination
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that people perform a skin self-exam once a month.
The best time to examine your skin is immediately after a shower or bath. Check your skin in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. It’s best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and blemishes are and what they usually look and feel like. Have someone you trust help by examining hard-to-see areas.
Check for anything new:
- A sore that does not heal
- A new mole (that looks abnormal)
Keep in mind the ABCDs of melanoma detection
Do not use the following pictures to try to diagnose melanoma yourself. Pictures are useful examples, but they cannot take the place of a doctor’s examination.
 A for Asymmetry: Does one half of a mole look different from the other? |
 B for Border: Is the edge (border) of the mole ragged, notched, or blurred. |
 C for Color: Does the mole have a variety of hues or colors within the same lesion? (The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, grey, red, pink, or blue also may be seen.) |
 D for Diameter: There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (1/4 inch or 5 millimeters). |
Melanomas can vary greatly in how they look. Many show all of the ABCD features. However, some may show changes or abnormalities in only one or two of the ABCD features.
If you notice a mole that is different from others, or which changes, itches, or bleeds even if it is smaller than 6 millimeter, see your doctor.
CHECK YOURSELF FROM HEAD TO TOE.
- Look at your face, neck, ears, and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a blow dryer to move your hair so you can see better. You also may want to have a relative or friend check through your hair because this is difficult to do yourself.
- Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror, then raise your arms and look at your left and right sides.
- Bend your elbows and look carefully at your fingernails, palms, forearms (including the undersides), and upper arms.
- Examine the back, front, and sides of your legs. Also look between your buttocks and around your genital area.
- Sit and closely examine your feet, including the toenails, the soles, and the spaces between the toes.
By checking your skin regularly, you will become familiar with what is normal for you. It may be helpful to record the dates of your skin exams and write notes about the way your skin looks. If you find anything unusual, see your doctor right away.
Always tell your doctor if:
- You have any new or unusual sores or spots on your skin.
- A mole or skin lesion changes in size, color, or texture.
- You have a sore that does not heal.
