4 Steps to Take If Skin Cancer Runs in Your Family
Having a relative diagnosed with skin cancer like melanoma can naturally be concerning. Read on to learn more about how that affects your risk and the steps you can take to protect yourself.
4 Lifestyle Habits for Preventing Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and is diagnosed more often than all other cancers combined. It will strike one in five Americans by the time they turn 70, and people in sunny Santa Monica, California, can be particularly at risk. Fortunately, there are things you can do today to help prevent skin cancer tomorrow.
Whether at his private practice in Santa Monica or working on the latest clinical trials at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, Dr. Trevan Fischer uses state-of-the-art surgical techniques and stays abreast of the most recent findings in the field.
He’s particularly well-versed in the many kinds of skin cancer and how to prevent them. Here, he offers four changes you can make to help avoid getting skin cancer.
Types of skin cancer
Skin cancer typically forms on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, though it can also appear on skin that’s usually covered from harmful UV rays.
Skin cancer is classified into three main types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Less common skin cancers include Merkel cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma, and sebaceous gland carcinoma.
Ways to prevent skin cancer
The good news is there are a number of actions you can take to avoid skin cancer. These include:
Avoid the sun during peak hours
Staying out of the sun altogether is one of the best ways to protect your skin, but not always possible if you live in a sunny part of the world like Southern California. When you can, avoid the sun between 10 am and 4 pm when it’s the strongest.
If you must be out, seek the shade or wear sun-protective clothing. Long sleeve shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat are good choices. To make them even more effective, choose clothes with a UV protection factor (UPF) label. Don't forget to wear sunglasses with UV protection, too.
Use sunscreen
If avoiding the sun or covering up aren’t possible, be sure to use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or more to protect from UVA and UVB rays. Apply it liberally — about one ounce for adults — to cover your entire body and reapply it every two hours or after you swim or sweat.
Mind the weather
Don't be fooled by a cloudy day or cold weather as sunscreen should still be used when it's overcast. In addition, watch out when spending time near the water and sand which can reflect the sun’s rays and increase the odds of getting sunburned.
Don't use tanning beds
Avoid tanning beds and their UV light, which can cause premature skin aging and skin cancer.
Taking steps to avoid skin cancer is always a good idea. If you have any unusual or suspicious areas on your skin, it's important to get them checked out. Call our office or book an appointment online for a thorough skin screening today.
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