4 Ways to Fend Off Skin Cancer

Reapply sunscreen immediately after swimming for maximum protection.

We loved a good day of soaking up the sun sans sunscreen in our youth, but now that we’re older we know better than to venture outside without slathering on some SPF 30 along with a few swipes of our Shiseido Sun Protection Stick. Still, far too many of us don’t take enough precaution. A recent nationwide survey of 7,000 adults commissioned by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that some cities are taking sun safety to heart, while others still have a long way to go. Twenty-six cities were ranked based on respondents’ answers to several questions in each category concerning their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward tanning, sun protection and skin-cancer detection. The results were surprising.

“One common thread we found encouraging is that the majority of people polled expressed concern about skin cancer and had awareness of the importance of proper sun protection,” says William D. James, M.D., president of the academy. “However, we found that people’s behaviors did not always correlate with their concerns.”

The highest scoring sun-smart cities on the survey were Hartford, CT, Salt Lake City and Denver; at the bottom of the list were Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh. Sadly, the average responses did not reflect well on American’s knowledge of their skin-cancer risk. More than one-fourth of respondents indicated that they had never examined their skin for changes in moles or blemishes, and 59 percent of respondents reported that they had never been screened for skin cancer by a health-care provider. Perhaps not surprisingly with our country’s fascination with a golden glow, a whopping 72 percent of the general public agreed that people look more attractive with a tan.

“We’re hoping the results of this survey will draw attention to the public’s need to change its attitudes toward tanning, which is the first step in changing behavior,” says James. “Our data show that most people are concerned about skin cancer, but they still need to modify their attitudes, behavior and knowledge to reduce their risk.”

To reduce your risk of skin cancer, be sure to follow this advice from the American Academy of Dermatology:

1. Develop sun-smart habits. Thirty minutes before heading outdoors, apply 1 ounce (the equivalent of a shot glass) of UVA and UVB water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 all over the body. Reapply approximately every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
2. Minimize sun exposure. We like to leave a long-sleeved shirt in our car to put on over our clothes during our daily commute, and when we go outside for an afternoon stroll on the beach or outdoor shopping excursion, we bring along our wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, especially when the sun’s rays are strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3. Avoid tanning beds. If you want a golden glow, find a sunless self-tanning product to use along with your sunscreen. Most modern formulations will not give you a streaky orange tan, and many include SPF for added protection from the sun. For the body, we like DuWop Revolotion SPF 15 ($28) because it goes on smooth and offers a little bit of sun protection. For the face, we recommend Lancôme’s new Flash Bronzer Tinted Anti-Age Self-Tanning Face Lotion SPF 15 ($36).
4. Do a yearly self-check on your body. May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, so celebrate by visiting melanomamonday.org to find out how to perform a self-exam, download a body mole map, find free skin-cancer screenings in your area and even find a dermatologist near you. If caught early, skin cancer can be treatable.

How will you protect your skin this summer?

Photo credit: Neustockimages

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