Causecast

by CLAIRE GRINTON, Contributing Writer

1. There are two types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. While both are dangerous, non-melanoma skin cancer is far more common and less dangerous. About five percent of all skin cancer diagnoses are melanoma, which contributes more than 75 percent of all skin cancer-related deaths. One in five Americans develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

2. Non-melanoma type skin cancer takes place in either basal or squamous cells, which are near the outer layers of skin. Squamous cell carcinoma claims approximately 2,500 American lives each year. Melanoma begins in deep levels of the skin, where melanin is produced. Melanin creates the coloring in skin, which helps protect against the sun.

3. It is crucial to recognize the signs of skin cancer. If you have a mole or spot that you’re concerned about, knowing when to go to the doctor is as simple as knowing your ABC’s: Asymmetry of the spot, a Border that is blurry or jagged, multiple Colors present or the lightening or darkening of the suspicious area, a Diameter larger than about a quarter of an inch (about the size of a pencil eraser), or Elevation of the mole or spot. Often times, the presence of one of these characteristics is nothing to be worried about, but you should still talk to your doctor, particularly if you notice any changes.

4. There are a number of risk factors for skin cancer, including having fair skin, family history, severe burns in childhood, and exposure to the sun. About one in three Caucasians will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point during their life. However, skin cancer is deadliest for African Americans, Asians, and Latinos, despite the fact that they have fewer risk factors.

5. There are lots of ways to help prevent sun cancer. Avoid the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., wear protective clothing when out in the sun (including a hat), seek the shade, and remember that you should never use a tanning bed. When you DO have to be out in the sun, the CDC recommends that you apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15 with both UVA and UVB protection every hour. To ensure that it’s effective, apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outside, and remember to reapply after swimming or sweating.

6. The sun’s UV rays can still damage your skin if you’re indoors (through windows) and on cloudy days. Proper protection should be practiced even during the winter months, when we often forget that we can get burned.

7. There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Vitamin D is great, yes, but any presence of a tan means damage to your skin.

8. Surgery is typically the recommended treatment plan for skin cancer, though topical chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, or radiation therapy may sometimes be suggested. With skin cancer treatment, you run the risk of damaging healthy skin cells, but left untreated, skin cancer is more dangerous than the risk of side effects.

9. About one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. In 2009, the number of people diagnosed with melanoma in the U.K. broke 10,000 for the first time.

10. It is often thought that most of your skin exposure occurs before 18, but this simply isn’t true. In fact, only about 23 percent of your lifetime exposure occurs before adulthood, which means that you cannot get lax about your skin protection. Need more encouragement? A whopping 90 percent of visible changes attributed to aging come from sun exposure – sunscreen may just become the newest tool in your anti-aging regimen.

Photo by Whatsername?, flickr.