Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with 72,000 new cases in 2013 (the most recent year for which statistics are available) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Roughly 9,000 people die every year from skin cancer.
And for that, you can thank our love of the sun.
Dr. Philip Gafford, a general surgeon and surgical oncologist with Midwest Surgical Specialists, says we can do a lot to protect ourselves against sun damage today so that we don’t wind up with skin cancer later. But first, we must dispel some commonly held misconceptions about tanning, burning and our skin.
Myth 1: If I have dark skin, I’m immune from sun damage
Truth: While it’s true that people who burn easily and don’t tan are most susceptible to damage from the sun’s UV rays, anyone can experience sun damage and should therefore take precautions. The best and easiest precaution is to wear sunscreen any time you’re going to be outside.
Myth 2: I don’t need sunscreen on a cloudy day
Truth: Although you can’t see it, the sun’s harmful UV rays are still damaging cells in your skin on cloudy days. If you’re going to be outside during the summer, you need protection against those harmful rays.
Myth 3: A tanning bed is safe
Truth: Tanning indoors is not safer than tanning in the sun according to the CDC. Indoor tanning is designed to give you a concentrated amount of UV exposure in a limited amount of time. It is also not a safe way to get Vitamin D, which is best absorbed through a balanced diet.
Myth 4: Getting a base tan protects you from sun damage
Truth: A tan is the body’s response to injury from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Any tan is evidence that there already has been damage and does not protect you from getting a sunburn later.
Myth 5: I’m young. I’m not going to get skin cancer
Truth: Research shows that a top risk factor for skin cancer is a history of sunburns in our youth. So you while you might not get skin cancer this year, you’re still increasing your risk of dying prematurely if you don’t protect yourself now. Dr. Gafford performed skin cancer surgery on a man in his 30s who surfed in his teens and 20s without sunscreen.
Dr. Gafford says the best protection is to stay out of the sun altogether around mid-day during the summer. If you can’t do that, make sure you’re wearing liberal amounts of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, and wear a hat whenever possible. If you burn easily, it’s even advisable to wear long sleeves when you’re exposed to the sun.
If you see anything on your skin that seems to be changing, Dr. Gafford advises you have it checked by your primary care physician or a dermatologist. That includes anything with an irregular shape or with multiple colors, anything growing or a mole with blood vessels on the surface, or red scaly patches. These are all potentially pre-cancerous conditions.
For more information call Midwest Surgical Specialists at 419-998-8207 or visit midwestsurgical.org.
