Skin Cancer Risk Factors:  Why Should You Seek Shade When You Are Outside between 10:00am to 4:00pm?

In the United States, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Each year, more than one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed. Experts believe that these incidences are related to the sun.

In 2007, 59,940 cases of melanoma, which is the worst type of skin cancer, were reported. Additionally, 10,850 deaths related to skin cancer were reported each year.

Based from the 2007 records, the five year survival rate of localized melanoma is ninety nine percent. Usually, about eighty percent of the melanomas are diagnosed at the localized stage.

There are different types of skin cancer but the two common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The good thing about these two types of cancer is that they’re both curable.

According to epidemiologic data, skin cancer can be prevented if children, adolescents, and adults will protect themselves from the harmful ultraviolet radiation. Thus, the best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect one’s self from the sun.

The Center for Disease Control in the United States recommends that people should seek shade whenever they are outside especially during 10:00am to 4:00pm wherein the ultraviolet rays are strongest. As much as possible, people are encouraged to cover up their skin through their clothing. Wearing a hat can also help in protecting the face and the neck for sun exposure. Rubbing on some sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher will protect the skin from the harmful UV rays.

For a better prognosis, early detection is important. In order to determine the presence of skin cancer, here are the warning signs that should not be ignored:

• Check for any changes in the skin. Changes in the appearance of a mole or a wart should also not be ignored. You should also be able to detect other darkly pigmented spots or growth.
• Any changes in the appearance of a nodule in the skin should be consulted to the physician immediately. If there is any scaling or bleeding in the skin, it should be immediately consulted.
• Itchiness, tenderness, and pain or changes in the sensation should be immediately consulted to the physician so that further examinations will be done.

Skin cancer can be prevented if proper skin care is done. Avoiding too much exposure to sunlight can help in preventing skin cancer. Artificial tanning also emit UV rays that are very harmful to the skin, that’s why it is highly discouraged.