The Sun’s Risks: Protecting Yourself from Melanoma

With summer now officially upon us, many people will be going outside for some fun in the sun! Before you head out though, it’s important to make sure your skin is protected from harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause premature aging, sunspots, and even a form of skin cancer known as melanoma.

What to Be Aware Of:

Melanoma, when caught early on (before it reaches the lymph nodes) has about a 99% survival rate. However, because it spreads quickly, and often goes unnoticed for too long, it is still responsible for about 75% of all skin cancer deaths.

Melanoma is related to sunburns, as opposed to other skin cancers that are more commonly linked with long-term exposure. While everyone is at risk for melanoma, Caucasians are most at risk. Others who are at a higher risk include those with numerous existing moles or a previous history of skin cancer in any form.

Types of Melanoma:

  1. Superficial Spreading Melanoma often appears on the legs and upper back and is the most common type.
  2. Nodular Melanoma usually appears on the head or neck area and is blue-black in color, but can sometimes be pink or red as well. This type is often characterized by a dome-shaped nodule and is known to grow deeper more quickly than other types.
  3. Lentigo Maligna Melanoma forms from a pre-existing small, flat, pigmented spot on the skin. This type often takes years to develop and is often found in sun-exposed areas such as the face. Generally, these spots are large, flat lesions that appear brown, tan, black, blue, red, gray, or white in color.
  4. Acral Lentaginous Melanoma is the least common type of melanoma. This type is often found on the palm of the hand, soles of the feet, and underneath fingernails and toenails. It is most commonly found on darker skinned individuals, including African-Americans and Asians. It can appear on any part of the body, regardless of sun exposure.

What to Look For:

If you have a spot or mole on your skin that you’re unsure about, it’s important to talk with your physician so that they can check and make sure it’s not melanoma. If you notice any of the following characteristics in your spot, it’s especially important to get it checked.

  • Asymmetry or an unusual shape.
  • Moles that itch, hurt, bleed, or change quickly.
  • An irregular border to the spot (giving the appearance of spreading on one side).
  • Abnormal coloring or multi-colored spots. Melanoma can be black, brown, blue, red, or white. Dark and multi-colored spots should be checked.
  • Evolution. If you notice a change in the appearance of your spot, or see a new spot appear, get it checked.

How to Protect Your Skin:

  • Limit the amount of time you spend in the sun.
  • Regularly use and frequently reapply sunscreen
  • Wear protective clothing

Sunscreen Tips:

Sunscreens are classified as “physical” or “chemical”. Most sunscreens available today are classified as “broad spectrum protection” and will protect against UVA and UVB rays.  Physical sunscreens, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, prevent UV rays from reaching the skin by reflecting and dispersing the rays. Chemical sunscreens, such as those containing oxybensone, benzophenones, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), etc, absorb rays in such a way that they are prevented from penetrating the skin. The degree of absorption depends on the concentration and type of chemical substance used. Most chemical sunscreens on the market today are PABA-free due to a common allergic reaction to PABA.

What Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to Use:

An SPF of greater than 15 is recommended for minimum protection. To determine what SPF you should be using, multiply the SPF by the amount of time it takes for your unprotected skin to redden due to sun exposure. So, if you get red after 10 minutes in the sun and are wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen, then you would get the same degree of reddening after 150 minutes. When in the water, water-resistant sunscreen provides coverage up to 40 minutes, where as waterproof is up to 80 minutes.

Sunscreens We Carry:

Here at Physicians Skin and Laser, we carry SkinMedica’s cosmeceutical products, which are premier products that are anchored in scientific research on solar care. This product line includes broad spectrum sunscreens that contain antioxidants to provide protection from physical UV exposure and to help stabilize the cellular skin components to protect from sun damage.

SkinMedica’s TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer + SPF 20 helps to fight the visible signs of environmental damage resulting from UV light, pollutants, harmful chemicals, and free radicals. It will protect your skin from UVA/UVB rays.

SkinMedica’s Environmental Defense SPF 30+ is a state-of-the-art sunscreen that offers defense against UV rays and environmental pollutants. The active ingredients include z-cote max, which is micronized zinc oxide.

For more information on Melanoma or Skin Cancer, please talk to your doctor or visit one of the following websites: www.cancer.gov     www.checkyourskin.com   www.melanoma.org