Loyola Univ. Health Sys. - Loyola Living June 2002 Issue

If you thought you knew the basic facts about sun tanning and skin cancer, think again. June Robinson, M.D., director of dermatology at Loyola University Health System, clarified some of the myths and misconceptions about the most common type of cancer: skin cancer.

If I use sunscreen, I will be protected against skin cancer. False. If you don’t apply sunscreen correctly, it won’t do the job. Start by selecting a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Put on the sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside so the lotion has time to soak into the skin and dry. Take your time to use plenty of lotion and spread it evenly over every part of exposed skin. For lips, use a stick preparation rather than a lotion. Then reapply sunscreen every two hours while enjoying dry activities and every 80 minutes while swimming.

Even when applied correctly, sunscreens are not perfect. They don’t block all the sun’s harmful rays. Your best defense is to seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is most intense and wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and tightly weaved clothing.

Cloudy days are just as dangerous as sunny ones. True. Even on cloudy days, UV radiation reaches the earth and can cause sunburns. Rather than watching the sky for clouds, look to the UV Index in the local weather report for guidelines on how strong the sun’s rays will be on any given day. The index is calculated based on the sun’s elevation, cloud cover and ozone. Take extra precautions when the UV Index is more than five.

Check Your Skin

It is important to know the location and appearance of moles on your body so you can watch for changes. Any changing mole should be examined immediately by a dermatologist to detect skin cancer while it is still in a curable stage. Every few months, check your body in front of a full-length mirror in a brightly lit room. Look for moles that are asymmetrical, have ragged or blurred edges, have more than one color or that are larger than a pencil eraser.

Skin cancer is easily cured. False. Skin cancer can be cured if diagnosed and treated early, but one type of skin cancer, called malignant melanoma can spread to the rest of the body from a very small size. About 7,000 Americans die every year from melanoma. That is why it is important to have any changing moles evaluated right away by a dermatologist.

Some people just don’t get sunburns. False. People who have never burned often make the mistake of going without sunscreen. They may be in for a rude awakening if they travel to another part of the country where the sun’s rays are more intense. Sunlight is more intense closer to the equator and in the mountains. For example, Florida receives 150 percent more UV radiation than Maine.

Childhood burns are the most dangerous. True. Your skin remembers every suntan and sunburn. This is how the damage accumulates over time: Radiation from the sun changes the DNA, or genetic material, in skin cells. As those cells reproduce, the damaged DNA is passed on from one cell to another. Young people have very vigorous immune systems that keep those damaged cells in check, but over time, the immune system gets weaker and less able to stop the altered cells from turning into skin cancer.

Eighty percent of sun damage occurs before age 18, but that damage comes back to haunt you when you hit middle age. In fact, the earliest incidence of skin cancer occurs 15 years after the sun exposure.

Tanning beds are just as dangerous as the sun. True . Sun lamps and tanning beds mainly emit UVA radiation, which is less likely to cause a burn than UVB radiation from the sun, but that doesn’t mean tanning lamps are safe. UVA rays cause immune system damage and premature skin again, and new research has suggested a link between UVA radiation and malignant melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Log onto www.aad.org, the American Academy of Dermatology Web site,for more information about skin cancer prevention.