4/18/2017
Skin Cancer & Sun Safety Update
How does the sun affect your skin?
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Ultraviolet Radiation
UVA = Aging
UVB = Burn
UVC = is absorbed by oxygen and the
ozone in the atmosphere
UVA and UVB penetrate the skin
y and can cause:
and eyes
• Skin cancers
• Skin disorders
• Eye damage
• Negatively affect your immune system
).
Adapted from : The Sun, UV, and You: A Guide to SunWise Behavior, A publication from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA
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UV Camera: The Damage Beneath
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What causes skin cancer?
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Which one will it be?
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime
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What is skin cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
• The most common forms of skin cancer
• Arise within top layer of skin, usually on sun-exposed
areas of body, including the face, forearms and neck
rough red scaly area or bumps that
• Usually look like a rough,
bleed
Melanoma
• Deadliest form of skin cancer
• Can occur anywhere on the body, but
is most common on the upper back,
torso, lower legs, head and neck
• New, rapidly growing moles or moles
that itch, bleed, change color or size =
early warning signs of melanoma
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Who gets melanoma?
Is melanoma really that serious?
• One American dies from melanoma
every hour.
• Second most common cancer in
adolescents and young adults 15-29
years old
old.
• Most common form of cancer for
young adults 25-29 years old.
What does melanoma look like?
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How to detect skin cancer?
The American Academy of Dermatology
encourages everyone to check your skin
regularly
Is there a cure for melanoma?
• If detected early, melanoma is highly
curable.
• Once melanoma spreads to the
lymph nodes insides the body, the
survival rates decrease significantly.
Too young for melanoma?
Miss Maryland diagnosed with melanoma at age 20
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Is there a safe way to tan?
Is there a safe way to tan?
 “Healthy tan” is a contradiction
 A tan itself is a sign of DNA damage
 Using tanning beds increases the risk of developing
melanoma by 75%; this risk increases with each use
 Tanning is addictive – research has shown the tanning
process releases a type of endorphin
 Endorphins affect the brain and help relieve pain, and
promote a sense of happiness and well-being
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What can you do to protect yourself?
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Does higher SPF matter?
 At least SPF 30 for daily use
 SPF 50 if fair skin, history of skin cancer, or plans for
intense sun exposure
What is intense sun exposure?
 10 AM to 4 PM
 High altitudes
 Reflective surfaces (i.e. ocean or snow)
How do you apply sunscreen?
 Early - 20 to 30 minutes before going outside
 Enough - usually about 2 tablespoons for adults over the
entire body. Rub it in well.
 Often - every 2 to 3 hours while outside. Apply
sunscreen every hour if you are going to be toweling off,
sweating, or potentially rubbing off the sunscreen; in
those case, you should reapply as soon as you do those
activities.
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Thinking beyond sunscreen
Thinking beyond sunscreen
Sun protective clothing
 If you spend any time in the water or swimming:
SWIM SHIRT!
UPF 50
Example companies: Coolibar, Lands End, LL Bean,
Athleta
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Sun protective clothing
 Lightweight, long layers
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Sun protective clothing
 Hat with a wide brim
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Thinking beyond sunscreen
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Screen the one you love
“I don’t want anyone to go through
what I have. I keep reminding
people that skin cancer can
happen to you. You’re not immune
to this. This is such a preventable
cancer. Wear a sunscreen of an
SPF of at least 30 every day.
Avoid tanning beds and get
screened by a dermatologist
regularly.”
-Brittany Cicala
True or False?
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Tanning beds are safer
than the sun
TRUE OR FALSE?
You can get sunburned
on cloudy days
TRUE OR FALSE?
Getting a base tan
protects the skin from
sun damage
d
TRUE OR FALSE?
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4/18/2017
No need to use
sunscreen if you have
d k skin
dark
ki or h
have a tan
t
TRUE OR FALSE?
Sun exposure from
childhood is related to
skin
ki cancer later
l t in
i life
lif
TRUE OR FALSE?
How often do you need to reapply
water-resistant sunscreen?
 Every 2 hours or sooner
 After sweating or swimming
 After you towel dry
 All of the above
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4/18/2017
Enjoy the summer!
Practice sun safety.
T
Thank you!
 Acknowledgements:
— American Academy of Dermatology
• Sun, Fun, and Safe: Sun Safety for Everyone
— Women’s Dermatologic
g Society
y
 Please feel free to contact us at MGH:
[email protected]
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