SKIN CANCER: SAVING YOUR SKIN

Posted on April 23rd, 2009, by admin

And then there’s the fastest-rising cancer of all. Malignant melanoma-the deadly variety of skin cancer-is increasing so rapidly that its death toll keeps going up even though the survival rate is actually getting better. In addition, non-melanoma skin cancer-basal and squamous cell carcinoma-is the most common cancer among U.S. Whites.

The sun is to blame. And the fact is that we’ve been spending a lot more time under it in recent decades. The great outdoors is a wonderful place to be, but not if you don’t protect your skin from the sun. And the lighter your skin, the more at risk you are.

Still, skin cancer is one of the more treatable cancers since the problem is usually right on the surface. It’s also preventable. Here’s what you can do in addition to reducing the amount of fat in your diet.

Cover up. It’s a sunny day and the mercury’s rising. Perfect for cutoffs and a tank top, right? Not if you want to protect yourself from skin cancer. “If you’re going out in the sunlight, wear protective clothing,” says John E. Wolf Jr., M.D., chairman of the department of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “That means a long-sleeve shirt and long pants. If you have thinning hair, it’s particularly important that you wear a hat or a cap.”

Rub on the sunscreen. Not just for a day on the beach but for all day every day. “The biggest mistake people make is thinking that they only have to wear a sunscreen when they’re sitting at a ball game or playing tennis,” Dr. Wolf says. “The ideal way to do it is to put the sunscreen on as part of your regular morning routine.”

Gloomy weather is no exception. “As a matter of fact, cloudy days are perhaps more dangerous than sunny days because people don’t think about protecting themselves,” Dr. Wolf says. “But 70 percent of the rays are coming through.”

Reapply if you’re out for a long exposure or you get wet. And make sure that your sunscreen is strong enough. A sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 is usually sufficient, according to Dr. Wolf. But bump it up as high as 45 if your skin is extra-fair, if you burn easily, or if you’re taking diuretics or antibiotics.

Stay out of the midday sun. “Use common sense about when you’re out,” Dr. Wolf says. “The most intense rays are generally between 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., so the best time to exercise or mow the lawn would be before or after that time.”

Find a better status symbol. Other than the chief executive officer suntan, that is. “All a suntan is your skin’s desperate attempt to protect itself from sunlight,” Dr. Wolf says. “It’s not healthy.” Neither are tanning booths. “The rays used in tanning parlors are less likely to burn you, but they can do all the other nasty things,” Dr. Wolf says.

Take a look. Dr. Wolf suggests examining your own skin monthly, with the help of a mirror or a willing accomplice. Any noticeable change is worth a visit to a dermatologist. That includes moles. “Having a lot of moles is a risk factor for melanoma,” he says. According to the American Cancer Society, the key warning signs of non-melanoma cancer are a new growth, a spot that is enlarging, or a sore that does not heal within three months. Moles that grow, change continuously, or have the American Cancer Society’s À, Â, Ñ, D characteristics merit a trip to a physician who can evaluate skin diseases.

A: It is asymmetrical; the halves don’t match.

B: Its border is irregular.

C: The color is not uniformly black or brown and may have patches of blue, red, and white.

D: The diameter is greater than 6 millimeters.

*7/36/5*

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