Protect Your Skin from the Sun

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 out of every 5 adults will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Skin cancer can happen to anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. There are specific things you can do to protect yourself from developing skin cancer and keep that healthy glow.

Facts from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

·        More people are diagnosed with skin cancer in America than all other cancer types combined

·        90% of all non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun

·        When detected early, melanoma skin cancer survival rate at 5 years is 99%

·        Our risk of melanoma doubles if a person has had 5 or more sunburns

·        Indoor tanning bed use increases a person's risk of melanoma by 6 times

How to prevent skin cancer

It is important to remember that UV damage does not only happen when it is hot. UV radiation can bounce off snow, water, and sand and even penetrate through clouds.

·        Avoid direct sun exposure from 10 am to 4 pm when the sun is at its peak intensity.

·        Apply sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply after swimming or excessive sweating.

·        Wear UV blocking sunglasses as our eyes can also develop skin cancer.

Isn’t sunlight good for me?

While sun exposure is a primary source of Vitamin D and is essential for healthy bones, strong teeth, and even energy, excessive unprotected exposure puts you at risk for skin cancer. The sun’s radiation risks outweigh the benefits of excessive sun exposure. In 2013, The Institute of Medicine recommended getting vitamin D from things like oily fish, fortified dairy, and supplements.

Self-check tips

Checking your skin once monthly is key in detecting early signs of skin cancer. If you see a new, or changing mole have it checked out as soon as possible. Sometimes, clinicians use the ABC’s of Melanoma to identify early skin cancer.

A  asymmetry - does one side of the mole look like the other side?

B  boarders - are the boarders of the mole well defined or do they blur into the rest of the skin?

C  color - what is it (black, blue, darker than other moles); are there different shades and pigments?

D  diameter - is it larger than a standard pencil eraser? (about 5mm)

E  evolution - is the mole evolving or changing in any way?

Skin cancer screening and care

MI Partner Health offers in-depth skin cancer screening to help people identify any moles or lesions that may need further evaluation. Our team of experienced clinicians can treat some precancerous lesions, remove suspicious moles, and help to connect our patients to excellent dermatologists in our area if needed. We know that early detection provides the best outcomes when it comes to skin cancer. Make your appointment today!