Lower your risk of skin cancer

Almost one-third of U.S. adults said they had at least one sunburn within the past year, according to a recent survey from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. That statistic reveals how far Americans have to go to address stubbornly high rates of skin cancer.

The facts are sobering. Skin cancer is the nation’s most common cancer, with more than 5 million cases diagnosed each year, according to the nonprofit Skin Cancer Foundation. And while many skin cancer cases are curable, one type of skin cancer — melanoma — can be deadly. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the number of new invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased by 42% over the past 10 years.

“Skin protection is for all of us,” says Dr. Russell Metz, a board-certified dermatologist with Beaches Dermatology in Fernandina Beach. One in five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. Twenty percent is a high amount. That statistic really hits home with people.”

The American Academy of Dermatology designates May as Melanoma Awareness Month. This is a great time of year, before the hot summer months, to review strategies to protect yourself from the sun, Metz says.

“Be aware that it’s not just days at the beach that require protection,” he says. “You get exposure when you’re out running errands or from sitting next to the window in your car.”

Sun protection strategies

It takes some effort to protect yourself from sun exposure, but there are more resources to help than ever before. Tops on the list is to use sunscreen regularly. Dr. Metz recommends a product with an SPF of 30 or higher that is also water resistant. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more often if you are in water, toweling off or sweating. Choose facial moisturizers that carry an SPF rating. Remember that using a self-tanning product doesn’t protect you from UV rays.

The sun-protective clothing industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade. Look for clothing that carries a UPF number of at least 30, which indicates what fraction of ultraviolet rays pass through the clothing.

Wearing sun-protective clothing, such as long-sleeved rashguards at the beach or pool, is a great way to protect yourself, Metz says.

“I have seen a very nice uptick in sun-protective clothing during my career,” he says. “The clothing is much more stylish, much more breathable. The clothes are made for people with different outdoor interests, such as fishing, surfing and golf.

Choose broad-brimmed hats for outdoor activites as well as eyewear with UV coating.

Other strategies include seeking shade and avoiding direct sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information, Metz steers his patients to the AAD website, which provides factual information based on scientific literature and professional standard-of-care medical guidelines and recommendations. “It’s a great resource because it has no bias behind it.”

Recognizing skin cancer

There are several types of skin cancer. Americans should have a basic knowledge of what the three most common types of skin cancer look like. Melanomas, which are linked to a high rate of blistering sunburns, often develop from moles. Remember the acronym “ABCDEs,” which stands for asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving. Moles that reflect any of these types of changes should be examined promptly by a physician. Melanomas can arise anywhere on the skin, including on a fingernail or toenail.

Today, more early-stage melanomas are being detected, when the chances of a cure are much higher, Metz says. When detected early, the five-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.

“People are more attentive to melanomas now,” he says. “They have a better understanding of the disease.”

The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. Lesions often appear as shiny, pearly bump or pinkish patch, often on sun-exposed areas. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the U.S. It usually appears as red, scaly patches or open sores and can spread to other parts of the body if not treated early

The key is to pay attention to any change to skin or skin lesion that won’t heal, Metz says. Make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist.

“Even really good medical providers who don’t have a lot of experience with skin cancer don’t recognize the nuances,” Metz says. “People need to remember: if something is not healing, we need to know why. Talk to the doctor if it hasn’t healed in one month.”

Consider getting regular skin cancer exams. Sometimes the exam will reveal lesions called actinic keratosis — a rough, scaly patch or bump on the skin that can progress to skin cancer if not treated.

“It’s good to get a baseline skin cancer exam in early adulthood,” Metz says. People with a history of skin cancer or actinic keratosis may need yearly exams as well as people with a high risk of developing skin cancer, such as people with a history of sunburns, are fair- skinned, have used tanning beds or who are fair-skinned and age 50 or older.

“For all of us ages 50 and older, a once-a year skin exam is well worth the time and effort,” he says.

“One of the more disturbing trends is among people ages 50 and below, women are being diagnosed with more cases than men,” Metz says, noting that, in the past, men have had higher rates of skin cancer. The trend could be due to more skin-baring clothing, popular among younger women, as well as indoor tanning practices.

“The indoor tanning industry was adamant that it was safe and didn’t cause problems. That is just not the case. No tan is safe,” he says.