Skin Cancer: How To Reduce Your Risk And Protect Your Skin
Did you know that two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they're seventy? If caught early the vast majority of skin cancers can be successfully treated, however, it is always better if you can prevent skin cancers from occurring in the first place. Read on to discover the best ways protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancers developing, as well as what you should do to make sure skin cancer is picked up early.
What Causes Skin Cancer?
The vast majority of skin cancer cases are caused by UVA and UVB rays from sunlight (or sunbeds) damaging DNA in the skin cells. This causes the cells to divide abnormally, resulting in cancer.
Stay Out Of The Sun
Although a small amount of sunlight is necessary so that the body can make sufficient Vitamin D for good health, too much will increase skin cancer risk. We advise people to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (approximately 11 am until 3 pm) if possible. At other times of day, if you are outside, stay in the shade if possible and always wear good-quality sunscreen that has a strength of at-least SPF 30.
Don't Use Sunbeds
Sunbeds are designed with the intention of stimulating the production of melatonin in order to create a healthy, tanned look. Unfortunately, spending time on a sunbed means you're exposing your skin to a high level of UVA and UVB, increasing your cancer risk. If you like a tanned look, we recommend using fake tan instead.
Cover up
If possible, cover skin when outside. If an area of skin is uncovered, ideally it should be coated with sunscreen. For people likely to spend time where there is little shade, it's possible to purchase clothing and sportswear that are made from materials that have a sun protection factor.
Wear sunscreen
Even if you're just taking a quick stroll to the shop or just popping out for a few minutes, it’s still important to apply sunscreen to any exposed parts. Don't forget to include the top of the ears and the nose - both common sites for skin cancer. Sunscreen should be at least SPF 30, ideally higher. Unfortunately, sun damage to the skin can occur in less than a quarter-of-an-hour, even on cloudy, overcast days.
Early detection is critical to successful treatment
As most people are aware, the earlier a cancer is caught, the more likely it is that it can be treated successfully. For this reason, we urge people to regularly check their skin for any unusual changes. Pay particular attention to moles that may alter in some way. Asymmetric mole borders, a change in colour or shape, bleeding, increasing in size or changing are all signs that your mole should be checked by a medical professional.
For high-risk individuals, an annual head-to-toe skin cancer check by a medical professional is a wise precaution.
Remember that even if you are sensible in the sun, you can still get skin cancer. If you have any concerns about your skin, need a skin check or require any other medical assistance, please get in touch with Shakespeare Medical Centre.