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| From OncoLog,
March 2007, Vol. 52, No. 3 |
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 Simple Skin Cancer Prevention
 This year, more than one million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer, a disease that is almost totally preventable. The most common cancer in the United States, skin cancer is usually a direct result of too much sun exposure. By adopting a few fairly simple behaviors, you can help yourself and your family avoid the disease.
Enlighten yourself—use sunblock
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comes from both sunlight and artificial sources, such as tanning booths. So much scientific research confirms that UV rays cause the majority of skin cancers that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now classifies UV radiation as a carcinogen—a cancer-causing agent.
Reducing your risk of skin cancer begins with sun protection. Make applying sunscreen a daily part of your routine, said Carol Drucker, M.D., associate professor in M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Department of Dermatology. Women can use moisturizer, powder, or makeup that contains sunscreen. Dr. Drucker suggests putting sunscreen on children every morning when they’re getting dressed. Sunscreen should always be applied about 30 minutes before children go outdoors. Babies, however, should never be exposed to direct sunlight.
That sneaky sunlight—exposure adds up
A great deal of sun damage occurs in childhood. According to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experts, research indicates that the regular use of sunscreen during the first 18 years of life can reduce the lifetime incidence of skin cancer by 78%.
Most of us don’t realize how much sun we’re getting and that you don’t have to go to the beach to get too much sunlight. Studies following people who work indoors found that most had 20 to 30 hours of cumulative sun exposure in one week just by doing their normal, day-to-day activities, Dr. Drucker said. “That’s an amazing amount of sun exposure.”
How to keep those dangerous rays at bay
Choose sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 that blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays. Although it is UV-B rays that cause sunburn, UV-A rays also increase the risk of skin cancer, and sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 filter out 93% or more of these rays. “If you’ve had sun damage or pre-cancerous lesions, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is recommended for the face,” Dr. Drucker said. Pick a sunscreen that protects you from both UV-A and UV-B rays.
To cover your body, use enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, most people don’t use enough sunscreen to receive the level of protection promised on the package.
Use special sunscreen when you’ll be outside longer than usual. For example, on vacation or on days when you’ll be outdoors much of the day, choose a heavy-duty sunscreen, such as DuraScreen, which stays on all day and binds to the skin, Dr. Drucker said. Another product that offers extra protection is Rit Sun Guard, a laundry additive that washes sunscreen protection into clothing and is especially helpful for loose-weave clothing that lets a lot of light go through the fabric.
Seek shelter between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Particularly in the southern United States, it’s a good idea to keep indoors or in the shade during mid-day, when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest. If possible, schedule outdoor activities before or after those hours. And when you’re in the sun, cover up with clothing and sunglasses, in addition to using sunscreen. People with fair skin who freckle or burn in the sun are at high risk of skin cancer and should be especially diligent in following these precautions.
Stay out of tanning beds. If you soak in artificial UV rays of any kind—even if you follow all the other recommendations listed here—you will undermine all your other efforts to prevent skin cancer. “There is no redeeming value to tanning beds,” Dr. Drucker said. “They’re not safe.”
It isn’t difficult to protect yourself from skin cancer, and the effort is worth it.
-- Karen Stuyck
For
more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments,
programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.
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