Expert Debunks Skin Cancer Myths and Offers Sun Protection Advice

As the weather heats up in the summer months, people often spend long periods of time outdoors under the warm – but dangerous – solar radiation. This makes it all the more important for people to practice effective sun protection strategies to avoid skin cancer, the most common type of cancer.

Dr. Maral Skelsey, a dermatologist, director of the Dermatological Surgery Center in Washington, and spokeswoman for the Skin Cancer Foundation, shared the best ways for people to protect their skin from the sun and described some common misconceptions people have about sun safety an interview with CURE® for Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month.

Find the best sun protection

Choosing the right sunscreen can get confusing when many stores have a wall of choices. What do all the different labels mean? Which number is best? Should you go with a lotion, spray, or gel?

According to Skelsey, people should look for a label that says “Broad Spectrum” as it protects against both UVA and UVB rays – ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B. Sun protection factor (SPF) is a measure of how much sunburn protection you have to get.

“(UVA) are the long wavelengths of light and (UVB) are the burning rays of the sun,” she explained.

UVA rays penetrate deeper and are the cause of wrinkles, sagging, and aging, Skelsey said. The sun protection factor refers to the protection against UVB rays, which is why you should pay attention to sunscreens with a sun protection factor of at least 30. Both types of sun rays cause skin cancer.

Another key term to look out for is “water repellent,” added Skelsey. Don’t be fooled by “waterproof”, because no sun protection is technically waterproof. This means that while waterproof sunscreen helps, people should still remember to reapply it, especially after getting in the water.

“The longer period of time it’s classified as water-resistant – there’s 40 minutes or 80 minutes – you’ll want to look for an 80-minute water- or sweat-resistant sunscreen,” Skelsey said.

In terms of formulation, which can be lotion, spray, gel or stick, the best choice is the one you will actually use, stressed Skelsey.

“If you want to use a lotion or something more moisturizing, choose a sunscreen with this formulation,” she said. “A lot of people don’t want to get sunscreen in their eyes. A stick can be helpful on the face and around the eyes, as well as in more hairy areas. Gels can be helpful for (oily) skin. Spray can be very practical for large areas and sometimes also for children. “

However, when using spray, people should make sure it covers the entire surface, advised Skelsey.

The Most Effective Sun Protection Practices

When you find the sunscreen with the best protection, make sure you apply and reapply it regularly.

“Even if you are using the highest SPF, you will have to reapply your sunscreen after two hours of absence, swimming or sweating,” said Skelsey. “Most people don’t use enough sunscreen – you need to use at least two tablespoons. That’s about the size of a shot glass to cover your entire body and about the size of nickel for your face. “

Also, when applying it, people often overlook certain hidden areas of the body, such as B. the tips of the ears, the scalp (especially bald spots), the neck, and the tops of the feet.

When people are in the sun, they should, if possible, wear UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat as well as long sleeves to stay protected from harmful rays. People should also try to seek shade and avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Skelsey explained.

“We know that cumulative sun exposure has an impact on skin cancer development, so it’s not just sunburn,” she said. “And we also know that the sun and artificial tanning are known to be carcinogenic. So these are the most common ways that people develop skin cancer. “

People should regularly have their skin checked for skin cancer through a full-body skin exam at a dermatologist appointment. Skelsey also recommends that patients check themselves once a month and look for new or changing lesions.

Common misconceptions about sun exposure and skin cancer

While many people believe that they can get a “basic tan” to prevent sunburn and thus protect their skin, it is neither true nor safe, advised Skelsey.

“There is no such thing as a safe tan,” she says. “A tan doesn’t protect you from sun damage. It won’t protect you from skin cancer. A tan is caused by harmful UV radiation, (whether) from tanning lamps indoors or outdoors (sun), it’s just a signal that you’ve damaged your skin. It doesn’t make sense to tan indoors before going on a beach vacation. “

Another common myth is that only fair-skinned people can get skin cancer.

“Darker skin types also get skin cancer and are much less likely to wear sunscreen,” said Skelsey.

After all, many believe that without sunscreen, you need to be exposed to direct sunlight to get vitamin D. However, according to Skelsey, recent studies have shown that sunscreen use doesn’t significantly affect the amount of vitamin D people get in the sun. Additionally, the safest way to get vitamin D is through diet and supplements.

“There are also supplements that have been shown to help reduce the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, including nicotinamide,” said Skelsey. It was found that taking 500 milligrams of nicotinamide twice a day reduced the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer by 23%.

What cancer survivors and patients in active treatment should know

Since skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., many cancer survivors have likely had it regardless of the other types they had, Skelsey said. After having one type of skin cancer, survivors are at increased risk of developing a second skin cancer.

“Once you have one skin cancer, we know that in 10 years you have a 60 percent chance of getting another,” she said. “And that means a second skin cancer, not a recurrence of the one a person already has … and sun protection is becoming even more important.”

Patients on active cancer treatment should be aware that they are at increased risk of skin cancer because of the immunosuppression from treatment.

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