Is Your Skin Summer Ready?

DID YOU KNOW? Teens are more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer than adults are.

Summer is upon us, meaning more American’s will be spend time vacationing and participating in outdoor activities. Before your patients engage in any outdoor activities, be sure to educate them on the many dangers of sun exposure.

This guide will help you to inform your patients on skin cancer including melanoma, symptoms, indoor tanning and how to protect their skin.

01 | What Is Melanoma?

Yearly, an estimated five million Americans, have to be treated for one of three kinds of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most common form of skin cancer treated, which also affects more Caucasian adolescents than Caucasian adults. The other two forms of skin cancer are:

• Basal cell
• Squamous cell carcinomas 

Melanoma is a tumor of melanin-forming cells deriving from excessive sun exposure or UV rays. There are several kinds of UV rays such as UVA and UVB. The bodies limiting amount of UV ray exposure depends on climate, location and the quantity of which your body can handle.

02 | Symptoms to look for 

It is highly recommended that you listen to and visibly check your body regularly. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has listed questions to ask when looking for signs of melanoma called the “ABCDEs of Melanoma”. The questions are:  

• Is it in an asymmetrical shape?
• Is the border of the growth rigged?
• Does it have more than one irregular color?
• Is the diameter larger than the size of a pea?
• During the time the growth has appeared, does it seem to be evolving?

03 | Is Indoor Tanning Safe?

There are other ways to get a tan, not just by vacationing at a tropical location. Tanning beds use higher levels of radiation, causing your skin to burn after completing a 5-15 minute session, otherwise

known as a base tan. Tanning beds do not eliminate the dangers that come with the sun’s UV rays. As a matter of fact, using a tanning bed causes your skin to burn more quickly because light bulbs give off higher levels of radiation.   

04 | Ways to Protect Your Skin

Skin Cancer can develop over time. Therefore, it is important to begin protecting your skin now. The following list provides tips on how to properly protect your skin.  

• Wear a hat – wearing a hat protects a number of areas of your head and face, such as the scalp, forehead, nose and ears.  
• Apply sunscreen – applying an SPF 15 grade of sunscreen on any exposed skin can help protect your skin from possible burns.
• Look for shade – standing or sitting in the shade can hide you from UV rays, however, if there is none be sure to create your own by using an umbrella.

For additional information on skin cancer, go to http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/index.htm  

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References

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/prevention.htm

http://www2.epa.gov/sunwise/skin-cancer-facts-your-state

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts