Many People Still Don't Know How to Protect Against Skin Cancer

A new national survey by the American Academy of Dermatology finds that many people don't know enough about sun damage to protect themselves from developing skin cancer.

"Our survey showed that despite our repeated warnings about the dangers of UV exposure and the importance of proper sun protection, many people could not correctly answer true/false statements on the subject," said dermatologist Dr. Zoe D. Draelos, consulting professor at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., in a news release.

The survey found that only about one-third of more than 7,000 people surveyed knew that neither ultraviolet A nor ultraviolet B rays are safe for your skin.

"Quite simply, all forms of UV exposure, whether from natural sunlight or artificial light sources found in tanning beds, are unsafe and are the No. 1 preventable risk factor for skin cancer," Draelos explained.

About half of those surveyed wrongly thought that getting a base tan is a healthy way to protect the skin from damage.

"A base does very little to protect your skin, and since tanning damages the skin, getting a base tan could do more harm than good," Draelos said in the news release. "The only way to prevent sunburn is to protect your skin through using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and seeking shade."

More than half the respondents (63%) knew that it was not safer to tan indoors using a tanning bed, which emits UV radiation that has been linked to cancer. But only one in five people correctly responded that a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 doesn't provide twice the protection as SPF 15.

"Regardless of the SPF you use, wearing sunscreen should not provide a false sense of security about protection from UVB exposure," said Draelos. "No sunscreen can provide 100% UVB protection, but using a higher SPF provides greater UVB protection than a lower SPF. Its important to remember sunscreen must be reapplied regularly and be part of an overall sun-protection plan that includes hats, sunglasses, protective clothing and seeking shade."

Skin Cancer

Prevention

Most nonmelanoma skin cancer can be prevented by protecting your skin from the sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• Limit your exposure to the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the hours of peak ultraviolet exposure.
• Wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Use a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 every day, all year, even when it is cloudy. Sunscreens that say "broad-spectrum" can protect the skin from ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays. Sunscreens come in lotions, gels, creams, and ointments.
• Use lip balm or cream that has sun protection factor (SPF) to protect your lips from getting sunburned or developing cold sores.
• Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps, which emit UV radiation and can cause skin damage.

Skin protection for children

Children and babies should be protected from the sun. You should start protecting your child from the sun when he or she is a baby. Because children and teens spend a lot of time outdoors playing, they get most of their lifetime sun exposure in their first 18 years.

• Teach your children that it is important to protect their skin from the sun.
• Have your children wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and a hat when they are in the sun.
• Have your children wear sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 25 or SPF 30. Follow the instructions on the sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen after 2 hours in the sun or water, even if the sunscreen is waterproof.
• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight.

Some people believe that a tan may protect them against a sunburn and skin damage. But the amount of sun exposure needed to get a tan can by itself cause skin damage.

Skin Cancer

Prevention

Most nonmelanoma skin cancer can be prevented by protecting your skin from the sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• Limit your exposure to the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the hours of peak ultraviolet exposure.
• Wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Use a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 every day, all year, even when it is cloudy. Sunscreens that say "broad-spectrum" can protect the skin from ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays. Sunscreens come in lotions, gels, creams, and ointments.
• Use lip balm or cream that has sun protection factor (SPF) to protect your lips from getting sunburned or developing cold sores.
• Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps, which emit UV radiation and can cause skin damage.

Skin protection for children

Children and babies should be protected from the sun. You should start protecting your child from the sun when he or she is a baby. Because children and teens spend a lot of time outdoors playing, they get most of their lifetime sun exposure in their first 18 years.

• Teach your children that it is important to protect their skin from the sun.
• Have your children wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and a hat when they are in the sun.
• Have your children wear sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 25 or SPF 30. Follow the instructions on the sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen after 2 hours in the sun or water, even if the sunscreen is waterproof.
• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight.

Some people believe that a tan may protect them against a sunburn and skin damage. But the amount of sun exposure needed to get a tan can by itself cause skin damage.

Skin Cancer

Prevention

Most nonmelanoma skin cancer can be prevented by protecting your skin from the sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• Limit your exposure to the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the hours of peak ultraviolet exposure.
• Wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Use a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 every day, all year, even when it is cloudy. Sunscreens that say "broad-spectrum" can protect the skin from ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays. Sunscreens come in lotions, gels, creams, and ointments.
• Use lip balm or cream that has sun protection factor (SPF) to protect your lips from getting sunburned or developing cold sores.
• Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps, which emit UV radiation and can cause skin damage.

Skin protection for children

Children and babies should be protected from the sun. You should start protecting your child from the sun when he or she is a baby. Because children and teens spend a lot of time outdoors playing, they get most of their lifetime sun exposure in their first 18 years.

• Teach your children that it is important to protect their skin from the sun.
• Have your children wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and a hat when they are in the sun.
• Have your children wear sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 25 or SPF 30. Follow the instructions on the sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen after 2 hours in the sun or water, even if the sunscreen is waterproof.
• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight.

Some people believe that a tan may protect them against a sunburn and skin damage. But the amount of sun exposure needed to get a tan can by itself cause skin damage.

Skin Cancer

This topic is about nonmelanoma skin cancer, including basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. For information about melanoma skin cancer, see the topic Skin Cancer, Melanoma.

What is nonmelanoma skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the skin. It is the most common type of cancer. It is almost always cured when it is found early and treated. So it is important to see your doctor if you have changes in your skin.

Most skin cancers are the nonmelanoma type. There are two main types of nonmelanoma skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma . Most nonmelanoma cancers are this type. It can damage deeper tissues, such as muscles and bones. It almost never spreads to other parts of the body.
• Squamous cell carcinoma . This type is less common. It often starts in skin that has been injured or diseased. It sometimes spreads to other parts of the body.

What causes it?

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is usually caused by too much sun. Using tanning beds or sunlamps too much can also cause it.

How is nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed?

Skin cancer usually appears as a growth that changes in color, shape, or size. This can be a sore that does not heal or a change in a wart or a mole. These changes usually happen in areas that get the most sun-your head, neck, back, chest, or shoulders. The most common place for skin cancer is your nose.

Your doctor will use a biopsy to find out if you have skin cancer. This means taking a sample of the growth and sending it to a lab to see if it contains cancer cells.

What increases my risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer?

If you have light skin that sunburns easily, you are more likely to get skin cancer.

Your risk is higher if you are male or if you are over 40. Your risk is higher if others in your family have had it or if you have had it before.

You may also be more likely to get it if you have been exposed often to strong X-rays, to certain chemicals (such as arsenic, coal tar, and creosote), or to radioactive substances (such as radium).

How is it treated?

Your doctor will want to remove all of the cancer. There are several ways to do this. The most common way is to numb your skin so that it does not hurt, then cut out the cancer. You will be awake while this is done.

This surgery almost always cures nonmelanoma skin cancer.

After your treatment, you will need regular checkups because having skin cancer once means you are more likely to get it again.