SAN DIEGO, July 30, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- With summer in mid-swing, it's important for sunshine lovers to remember that skin cancer, often caused by overexposure to direct sunlight, is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the United States, with more than 1 million skin cancers diagnosed annually.(1)
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common types of skin cancer.(2,3) While basal cell carcinoma rarely results in death, squamous cell carcinoma is responsible for some 2,500 deaths a year.(3) The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma, which was detected in about 60,000 Americans last year and results in roughly 8,000 fatalities a year, according to the American Cancer Society. Unfortunately, melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S.(4) According to a study released in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, melanoma rates for young women increased 50 percent between 1980 and 2004.(5) While increases for men were lower, data shows adult males are still at a slightly higher risk of developing the disease than women.(1)
"The good news is that simple precautions can help you avoid skin cancer, while keeping your skin healthier and younger looking," says Dr. Douglas Metz, chief health services officer of Healthyroads, the wellness subsidiary of American Specialty Health. "It is important for people -- adults, teens, and kids -- to follow sun protection guidelines every time they expose themselves to the sun." According to a study from the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, painful sunburns in childhood or adolescence are associated with an increased chance of developing melanoma and other skin cancers later in life.(6)
The following tips can help protect you now and in the future:
1. Apply sunscreen daily. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) suggest using a sunscreen with a Sun Protection
Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher with both UVA and UVB protection. Make
a habit of slathering on sunscreen or a moisturizer with an SPF of
15 or more after your morning shower, so you start your day protected.
2. When outdoors for a long period, consider wearing a sunscreen
with an SPF higher than 15, or wearing sunblock, for ever greater
protection. Remember to reapply lotion every few hours, or as
recommended on the product label.
3. Stay out of direct sun when damaging UV rays are the most
intense. The CDC suggests avoiding outdoor exposure between 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m. daily.
4. The American Cancer Society recommends that you wear special sun
protective clothing that is designed to inhibit penetration from
ultraviolet rays. Clothing is rated by UPF, or Ultraviolet Protection
Factor. Clothing can be rated from 15 to 50.
5. Avoid commercial tanning booths and beds. Don't believe the hype
that indoor tanning is safe. A study from the International Journal
of Cancer found that men and women who were exposed to the UV rays
at indoor tanning salons had a 15 percent higher risk of developing
melanoma than those who did not use tanning beds.7
6. The American Cancer Society recommends that parents keep babies
younger than six months of age out of the sun. You can protect babies
with clothing, stroller hoods, and hats, but be careful when using
sunscreens. Until recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommended that parents not use suncreen on infants under six months
of age. Today, the AAP concedes that it may be safe to apply small
amounts of sunscreen to exposed areas when other protection is not
available.
7. Talk to your teen about tanning. Social pressures to have a
"golden glow" in the summer encourage teens to be careless about sun
protection. If your teen insists on tanning, steer him or her toward
sunless tanning lotions that can duplicate a natural suntan without
incurring damaging UV rays.
8. Do a monthly self-exam for signs of skin cancer and talk with
your doctor about whether you need a skin cancer screening when you go
in for your regular checkups. Caught in the early stages, skin cancer
can typically be treated.
9. If you notice a change in a mole or other skin mark, see your
physician immediately and have it checked.
10. Don't forget to protect sensitive lips and eyes. Buy sunglasses
with both UVA and UVB protection, and use a lip balm with SPF
protection.
"Outdoor summer activities can be fun without incurring dangerous and damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun," added Dr. Metz. "By incorporating these simple tips into your routine, you can have a safer and healthier summer."
1. American Cancer Society. (2008). Cancer Facts & Figures 2008.
Atlanta: American Cancer Society.
2. American Cancer Society. (2008). "What is Squamous and Basal
Cell Skin Cancer?" Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www.cancer.
org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_skin_cancer_51.asp.
3. MayoClinic. (2007). "Squamous Cell Carcinoma." Retrieved July
25, 2008, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/squamous-cell-
carcinoma/DS00924 ; American Academy of Dermatology. (2008).
"Squamous Cell Carcinoma." Retrieved July 25, 2008, from
http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_squamous.html.
4. Ries, L.A.G., Melbert, D., Krapcho, M., Mariotto, A., Miller,
B.A., Feuer, E. J., et al. (Eds.). SEER Cancer Statistics Review,
1975-2004. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. Retrieved July
25, 2008, from http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2004/
5. Purdue, M. P., Freeman, L. E., Anderson, W. F., & Tucker, M. A.
(2008). Recent trends in incidence of cutaneous melanoma among US
Caucasian young adults. Journal of Investigative Dermatology,(Epub
ahead of print). Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www.nature.
com/jid/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/jid2008159a.pdf
6. Zanetti, R., Franceschi, S., Rosso, S., Colonna, S., & Bidoli, E.
(1992). Cutaneous melanoma and sunburns in childhood in a southern
European population. European Journal of Cancer, 28, 1172-1176.
7. International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2007). The
association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and
other skin cancers: A systematic review. International Journal of
Cancer, 120(5), 1116 - 1122.
About American Specialty Health (ASH)
American Specialty Health Incorporated is a leading national health improvement organization, providing specialty managed care programs, fitness, health coaching, reward programs, Internet solutions, and worksite wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 600 employees and covers more than 13.4 million members in specialty managed care, fitness, and health coaching and wellness programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.