Skin Cancer Awareness

Last week we read an article in the Puget Sound Business Journal that Seattle was ranked the fourth worst in the nation when it comes to knowledge of skin cancer.

How can that be true? (We’re all so smart here!)

Well, it seems that many northerners believe they’re immune because we don’t have much sunshine or it’s often cloudy. We’ll, it just ain’t so. And in part because of that study by the American Academy of Dermatology, King County Executive Ron Sims last week proclaimed the first day of summer, SunWise Awareness Day

It may surprise many listeners that melanoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer in this state. And if it’s not melanoma, there are also two other less lethal forms called basal cell and squamous cell cancers, both of which can invade the skin locally causing lots of damage.

I’m sure your listeners are skin-cancer savvy, however, it continues to surprise me how many adults still love to worship the sun without taking precautions to avoid excessive direct exposure.

As children, we didn’t know growing up about the harmful long term effects of the sun’s radiation. Many of us were tanned or burned while playing outside and our parents didn’t give it a second thought.

Today we know that sun exposure, like most radiation, has a toxic build-up effect. Experts agree most damage to our skin is due to exposure in the first 20 years of life. The effects are seen 20 years later by way of wrinkles, discoloration and loss of elasticity. In other words, much like a trash can filling up with garbage, radiation builds up in the body until one day it overflows or breaks through, so to speak, and wham, abnormal or cancerous changes occur to the cells in our skin. These mutant renegade cells then aggressively multiply and destroy the healthy tissue around it.

This is why one day the skin looks normal, then what seems to be all of a sudden, a funny looking mark appears on the skin which we’re sure wasn’t there a while ago.

Prevention isn’t tough but we’ll have to get away from the notion of bronzed skin being healthy, for just the opposite is true.

What can we do about it?
Two of the biggest prevention tricks are lotions with SPF, or sun protective factor, and appropriate head coverings.

We all know about the benefits of sunscreen while intentionally being outdoors, whether it be on the water, in the garden or on the links. Please be aware, there are no “once a day” sunscreens. To have the intended effect, reapplication multiple times during the day is critical.

Daily prevention of exposure is just as important, especially as we age. I know many women already use facial products with SPF of at least 15. Keep doing it. Make sure to cover the ears as well! Also, encourage the men in your life to use daily moisturizer with SPF. There are lots of products designed for men, and they don’t have to be expensive. Sell it to them by telling them how much younger they’ll look!

Head covering is the other item. Many hats don’t cover much beyond the forehead and the top. Baseball style caps are a classic example. They usually don’t protect the nose, ears, side of the face or chin. Did you know that many skin cancers start on the left side of the face and body due to years of driving exposure?

Think about your long term health goals and hopefully, that will cause more sun-savvy Seattleites!!

p.s. Tanning beds of any kind with UVA and UVB rays add to total exposure.

To your good health!
Dr. Larry Greenblatt
www.cmadoc.com