How to prevent skin cancer?
Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays come from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can damage skin cells. [1]
To lower your risk of getting skin cancer, you can protect your skin from UV rays from the sun and from artificial sources like tanning beds and sunlamps.
Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow.
The Ultraviolet Index (UV) predicts the ultraviolet radiation levels on a 1-11+ scale, where 11 is the highest level of radiation. [2]
The following are simple steps that we should take when the UV index is above 3:
UVB radiation makes up only 5% of the UV rays from the sun, but it is very high energy. "UVB does not penetrate as deeply as UVA, but it can wreak havoc on the top layers of our skin." UVB damages skin cells and causes DNA mutations that can eventually lead to melanoma and other types of skin cancer. [3]
Indoor tanning (using a tanning bed, booth, sunbed, or sunlamp to darken the skin) exposes users to high levels of UV rays. Over time, too much exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancers, cataracts, and cancers of the eye.
A tan does not indicate good health. When UV rays reach the skin's inner layer, the skin makes more melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color. It moves toward the outer layers of the skin and becomes visible as a tan. Any change in skin color after UV exposure (whether it is a tan or a burn) is a sign of injury, not health. [1]
How do we inspect our skin?
We can use a magnifier also called dermatoscope.
A dermatoscope is a hand-held visual aid device a doctor or person can use to examine and diagnose skin lesions and diseases, such as melanoma.
It features a light source and a magnifier , and works like a magnifying glass.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/prevention.htm
[2] https://www.epa.gov/enviro/uv-index-search
[3] https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/what-s-the-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays-.h15-1592991.html#:~:text=UVB%20radiation%20makes%20up%20only,other%20types%20of%20skin%20cancer.
To lower your risk of getting skin cancer, you can protect your skin from UV rays from the sun and from artificial sources like tanning beds and sunlamps.
Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow.
The Ultraviolet Index (UV) predicts the ultraviolet radiation levels on a 1-11+ scale, where 11 is the highest level of radiation. [2]
The following are simple steps that we should take when the UV index is above 3:
- Stay in the shade.
- Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
- Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
UVB radiation makes up only 5% of the UV rays from the sun, but it is very high energy. "UVB does not penetrate as deeply as UVA, but it can wreak havoc on the top layers of our skin." UVB damages skin cells and causes DNA mutations that can eventually lead to melanoma and other types of skin cancer. [3]
Indoor tanning (using a tanning bed, booth, sunbed, or sunlamp to darken the skin) exposes users to high levels of UV rays. Over time, too much exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancers, cataracts, and cancers of the eye.
A tan does not indicate good health. When UV rays reach the skin's inner layer, the skin makes more melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color. It moves toward the outer layers of the skin and becomes visible as a tan. Any change in skin color after UV exposure (whether it is a tan or a burn) is a sign of injury, not health. [1]
How do we inspect our skin?
We can use a magnifier also called dermatoscope.
A dermatoscope is a hand-held visual aid device a doctor or person can use to examine and diagnose skin lesions and diseases, such as melanoma.
It features a light source and a magnifier , and works like a magnifying glass.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/prevention.htm
[2] https://www.epa.gov/enviro/uv-index-search
[3] https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/what-s-the-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays-.h15-1592991.html#:~:text=UVB%20radiation%20makes%20up%20only,other%20types%20of%20skin%20cancer.
