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.
Does the Sun Really Cause Skin Cancer?
Because one in five Americans will get skin cancer by the time they're 70 years old, it's no wonder people are concerned. Even so, while they may realize the prevalence and seriousness of this illness, many may not fully appreciate the significant role that sun exposure plays as a risk factor.
Dr. Trevan Fischer provides the most up-to-date and innovative diagnosis and surgical treatment protocols for skin and other cancers at his private practice in Santa Monica, California. In addition to his work as a complex general surgical oncologist, he plays a critical role in clinical trials at the Saint John's Cancer Institute where he stays abreast of the latest findings and care recommendations.
Skin cancer
There are three main types of skin cancer and all can be caused by exposure to the sun and its damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common followed by squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma is one of the deadliest kinds of skin cancer.
Sun exposure
It turns out all that nagging from mom and dad about putting on sunscreen was entirely correct. Energy from the sun comes in several kinds of UV rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. While UVC rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and therefore do little harm, UVA and UVB radiation can cause skin aging, eye damage, and a weakened immune system. They can also increase your risk of skin cancer.
Most of our ultraviolet radiation exposure occurs before we reach 18 years old, so it's essential to protect children. Exposure to the sun and its UV rays contributes to about 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86% of melanoma. In addition, having five or more sunburns doubles a person's melanoma risk but even just one blistering sunburn during childhood or the teen years can also double your risk.
Tanning beds
While the sun is the main culprit when it comes to exposure to harmful UV radiation, it's not the only one. UV radiation exposure from tanning devices can be 10-15 times higher than when the sun is at its most intense.
Indoor tanning increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 83% and basal cell carcinoma by 29%. Women who have participated in indoor tanning are also six times more likely to experience melanoma in their 20s and increase their risk of melanoma by 75% if they used a tanning bed before the age of 35.
Staying out of the sun — and, when you can't, using a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more — are essential steps in reducing your chances of skin cancer. However, if you have a new, changed, or simply odd-in-appearance mole or another mark on your skin, it's important to get a proper diagnosis because skin cancer is most treatable when caught early.
If you are concerned about your skin, Dr. Fischer can help. Click to book an appointment or call the office today.
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