[caption id="attachment_4256" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Hats"]
[/caption]Carol Forsloff - "I never wear a hat. They mess my hair. I'm not the kind who wears hats." These excuses might want to be tossed in favor of sun protection as experts tell us skin cancer is increasing at an alarming rate.
This reporter has been one of those skin cancer victims. It can be more frightening than some people believe. Never a sun bunny or a wearer of hats, until it was too late; I ended up a victim of skin cancer, of the worst type. That means the kind that can cause death.
Early sunburn is one of the causes of skin cancer later in life. Tanning is also high risk behavior, despite the fact many young folks continue to do it.
Dermatologists, however, are declaring skin protection is vital these days, because skin cancer is growing at an alarming rate.
In a presentation at the 69th
Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy),
dermatologist Brett M. Coldiron, MD, FAAD, clinical associate professor
of dermatology at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, outlined the growing skin cancer statistics.
Statistics reveal treatment performed for non-melanoma
skin cancers in the United States nearly doubled from 1994 to 2006. 3.5 million new cases were uncovered during 2006. Now Coldiron tells it has grown dramatically since then.
“As dermatologists, we know that it is hard to
change behavior, even in the face of proven scientific evidence,” said
Dr. Coldiron. “Attitudes about tanning are no different, as studies have
shown that even though people know that overexposure to ultraviolet
light can lead to skin cancer, they still tan. We need young people to
realize that tanning for cosmetic reasons now will ultimately negatively
affect their appearance later and even increase their risk for skin
cancer.”
These are suggestions from the Academy:
•
Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin.
“Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and
ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days,
and after swimming or sweating.
• Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.
•
Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun's rays are
strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you
are, seek shade.
• Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, wearing protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.
•
Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the
damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.
• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.
•
Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can
cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been
in the sun, consider using a UV-free self-tanning product, but continue
to use sunscreen with it.
• Check your birthday suit on your
birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your
skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught
early.
