Cancer Prevention: Know Your Moles

Has a mole that you’ve had since you were a child gone through some changes? Maybe it's a different shape or color, or it's just getting thicker and a little itchy? Have you recently found a new mole that doesn't look like the rest? If you can answer yes to at least one of these questions, then want to consider getting screened by a dermatologist for skin cancer. 

The internet is an abundant source of information about cancer types, prevention, and treatments, but all that information can be overwhelming and confusing. In keeping with our cancer prevention theme through the month of February, we have gathered some great information from our Certified Health Education Specialist, Casey Shelor. We hope this post will help eliminate some confusion with respect to the prevention of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous. 

Here are some tips on reducing the chance of being diagnosed with any type of skin cancer, from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. UV rays from the sun can reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. Indoor tanning (using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan) exposes users to UV radiation.

The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure outdoors in the continental United States. UV rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America. The CDC recommends several easy options for protection from UV radiation:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours. You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you physically feel a need for relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you're outside—even when you're in the shade.

• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin. Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection from the sun's UV rays. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well. Also, a wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. If wearing this type of clothing isn't practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up.

• Wear a hat. For the best protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker-colored hat may offer more UV protection. If you are wearing a ball cap, don't forget to protect the back of your neck and tops of your ears with clothing and/or sunscreen.

• Wear sunglasses. They protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts while also protecting the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side, and sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard, but check the labels.

• Use sunscreen. Choose sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. The sun's UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Apply a thick layer (rub it in until it's gone) on all parts of exposed skin and get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. Sunscreen does wear off, so all sunscreens (even the "waterproof" ones) need to be reapplied after swimming, sweating or being outside for more than two hours. Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

• Avoid indoor tanning. Using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan has been linked to an increased risk of skin cancers - including melanoma - and cancers of the eye. A recent study found that using a tanning bed - any type and for any length of time - increases a person's risk of melanoma by 74%. Some are likening the use of tanning beds by teens to the use of cigarettes, saying that it is a carcinogen and should be regulated in people under the age of 18. You have to ask yourself: Is a golden tan really worth dying for?

As always - know the facts, and do your part to protect yourself and your loved-ones from the potentially deadly effects of cancer. Skin cancer is preventable, and making the right choices can save your life.