Sun

Sun, Skin and SPF — Prevention and education help fight skin cancer

By Pam Jones, RN, BSN

This story was featured in myBoone Health magazine. Click here for a free subscription

More than a million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. As you head out into the sunlight, remember that although the sun’s rays might feel good on your skin, it is important to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from potential damage.

As with any disease, prevention and early detection provide the best outcomes.

FYI On SPF
A common question people have is: What is the best sun protector factor, commonly called SPF, to look for in a sunscreen?

Generally speaking, there are three types of ultraviolet light rays from the sun: UVA, UVB and UVC.

  • UVA rays penetrate the skin deeper and are largely responsible for signs of aging such as facial wrinkles.
  • UVB rays are not as prevalent on the earth’s surface as UVA rays, but are responsible for sunburns.
  • UVC rays are generally not a concern as the ozone layer absorbs these rays.

Ultraviolet radiation damages the DNA of skin cells, and this damage affects the DNA of genes that control skin cell growth. The SPF in the sunscreen tells you how much of the UVB light is being blocked from penetrating your skin. Currently there is no uniform measure of UVA absorption, but using a broad-spectrum sunscreen is thought to protect against UVA and UVB rays.

The higher the SPF, the more UVB rays are blocked. When using an SPF 30, you will get the equivalent of one minute of UV light for every 30 minutes you spend in the sun. For example, one hour in the sun wearing SPF 30 is the same as spending two minutes in the sun without sunscreen.

Risk Factors For Melanoma
(American Academy of Dermatology)

  • Two or more sunburns before age 18 or five or more sunburns at any age
  • More than 50 moles on your body
  • Light-skinned individuals who burn easily. People with skin of color do get melanoma, which generally appears on the palms, soles, under the nails, in the mouth or on the genitals.
  • Personal or family history of melanoma
  • People with weakened immune systems

Melanoma Warning Signs
(American Academy of Dermatology)

  • Asymmetry (uneven shape) in a mole or freckle
  • Irregular, scalloped, or poor border along the edge of a mole or freckle
  • A mole or freckle changes color from one area to another
  • A change in the size of a mole or freckle
  • A mole or freckle that is changing or looks different in size, shape or color when compared to other skin markings
  • A mole or freckle that itches, is painful, is bleeding or newly developed on the skin

Skin Cancer Awareness
One in five Americans will get skin cancer in his or her lifetime. Basal cell carcinoma is the most prevalent form, followed by squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma accounts for less than 5 percent of skin cancer cases, but is responsible for a vast majority of skin cancer deaths, especially between the ages of 15 and 29.

About one in 50 men and women will have melanoma in their lifetime and it is more prevalent in Caucasian persons but can affect all races. With early detection and proper treatment, skin cancer — even melanoma — is a treatable condition.

Beating skin cancer begins with a visual exam of your skin. People should check the markings on their skin every month or two and have a professional skin check yearly.

Seek assistance from a friend or family member to visually check your back. Any change in the way your moles or freckles look or feel warrants a visit to your health care provider.