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It’s Skin Cancer Awareness Month! Top Tips for Preventing Skin Cancer

Posted in Skin Cancer, Skin Care

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers we know of, but what do you really know about it? Since May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention month, here are some important statistics about skin cancer and the best tips for skin cancer prevention.

Critical Statistics About Skin Cancer

Doctor examining a mole on a patient's backDid you know:

  • Over 5.4 million treatments for nonmelanoma cancers are performed every year in the U.S.
  • One out of five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.
  • 40 to 50 percent of Americans who reach age 65 will have basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at least once.
  • The vast majority of skin cancers (90 percent of nonmelanoma and 86 percent of melanoma) are associated with UV radiation from the sun.
  • Someone dies of melanoma every 54 minutes.
  • In 2017, an estimated 87,110 new cases of invasive melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States.
  • Indoor tanning is linked to 419,000 skin cancer cases in the U.S. every year. This is higher than the rate of developing lung cancer due to smoking.

Some of these statistics are indeed eye-opening. Even so, there is much you can do to prevent or reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Prevention Tips

The following skin cancer prevention tips may help you keep your skin healthy and cancer-free.

  1. Avoid Tanning Beds – The statistics don’t lie. Tanning beds greatly increase your risk of developing skin cancers of all types. Indoor tanning is more dangerous for your skin than smoking is for your lungs. Even using a tanning bed just once greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
  2. Monitor Your Skin – Early detection is critical. Early detection of melanoma has a 98 percent five-year survival rate. This statistic drops to 62 percent if melanoma reaches the lymph nodes and 18 percent if it reaches distant organs. Do a full once-over of your skin every month and get a professional skin exam once a year. Talk to your doctor if you notice any changes, new moles, or other suspicious signs.
  3. Wear Sunscreen Every Day – The average risk of developing melanoma doubles if you have had more than five sunburns in your life. Since UV rays are responsible for nearly all skin cancers, you should wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, rain or shine. Daily sunscreen use reduces the risk of developing SCC by 40 percent and melanoma by 50 percent. Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher will block both UVA and UVB rays to protect you from developing skin cancer and also slow down the aging process to help your skin look its best.
  4. Cover Up – It may be tempting to strip down to your swimsuit, but you should wear a hat, sunglasses, and clothing as often as possible when out in the sun. Doing so could save you from developing skin cancer.
  5. Stay in the Shade – Take advantage of the shade, especially during peak sunlight hours (between 10 AM and 4 PM). This precaution will allow you to enjoy the outdoors without risking your health.
  6. Protect Your Children’s Skin – Newborns should be kept out of the sun entirely. Babies over six months should be slathered with plenty of sunscreen if you take them out into the sun.

Skin cancer or cancer of any kind should not be taken lightly. You can protect yourself by being informed and following these prevention tips. For more information about skin cancer and skin treatments, visit the Spa at Spring Ridge. Call (610) 880-8265 or contact us online today.