Looks like fun, huh?
Maybe not.
According to the American Cancer Society, every hour an American dies from skin cancer. THAT’S INCREDIBLY SAD, since research has shown with the proper precautionary measures, skin cancer is one of the most preventable diseases. Yet, many Americans continue to use sunscreen products with minimal protection and spend endless hours exposing themselves to dangerous ultra violet rays from the sun and indoor tanning facilities. With so many different messages surrounding skin cancer, it becomes difficult to decipher myth from fact and, unfortunately for many, the results can be life threatening.
“I see many patients who have misconceptions about skin cancer and the severity of the disease,” says Darrell Rigel, M.D., president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). “Myths surrounding skin cancer also affect the amount of misdiagnoses and mistreatments of the disease because more people visit walk-in-clinics and spas instead of seeing a board certified dermasurgeon when they have questions about a spot or a mole on their skin.”
According to a recent ASDS survey, 90 percent of its members have seen patients who’ve had skin cancer misdiagnosed or overlooked.
Just in time for baking-all-day-long-in-the-sun-season, Dr. Rigel addresses the most common skin cancer myths and sets the record straight.
Myth: Getting a suntan instead of sunburn will prevent skin cancer.
Fact: A suntan and sunburn are both signs that the skin has been damaged by Ultraviolet (UV) rays. Any skin color that you weren’t born with is a sign that skin cells have been damaged.
Myth: High Sun Protection Factor (SPF) means high protection.
Fact: Some of the highest SPF numbers only protect against Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays and not harmful Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Unlike UVB rays, UVA rays can pass through windows and are able to penetrate deeper into the skin, potentially leading to skin cancer.
Myth: Skin cancer only affects older adults.
Fact: Young people are at as much risk of skin cancer as older adults. Due to overexposure to the sun and the use of tanning beds in their teenage years, melanoma is the second most common cancer in women ages 20 through 29.
Myth: Skin cancer isn’t as dangerous as other cancers.
Fact: Melanoma, the deadliest for of skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States and accounts for approximately 8,420 deaths each year. It’s important to monitor all freckles, moles and marks on the skin and to visit a dermasurgeon immediately if you notice a change.
Myth: People with dark skin are safe from skin cancer.
Fact: Although people with fairer complexions are at higher risk, people with medium to darker complexions can still get skin cancer. It’s important to protect yourself from UV exposure, no matter what your skin tone.
Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam.com, Glam Blush, GlamBlush, Beauty, blogs, skin cancer, sunscreen, SPF, prevent skin cancer
**Photos Courtesy of iStock**
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Jim | 28-Apr-08 at 7:55 pm | Permalink
Don’t forget the biggest Myth: Indoor tanning causes Melanoma.
The fact is, moderate exposure to UV light has not been linked to Melanoma.
Overexposure (sunburning) and excessive exposure (so-called tanorexia) is not a good idea.
The fact is, moderate tanning is linked to a lowered risk of 16 different cancers including breast cancer, colon cancer and others.
For more info, visit www.sunlightscam.com
Surfer Girl | 29-Apr-08 at 9:23 am | Permalink
Don’t forget the UV protective clothing! Surfers have used rash guard shirts for years but it’s just recently that the SPF 150+ protection these shirts provide while you’re in the water has been discovered by the rest of the beach going population.
Joseph Levy | 29-Apr-08 at 12:21 pm | Permalink
How ironic and sad that most of the statements you list as “fact” have absolutely no research to support them.
Check the actual data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute and Health Canada and you’ll find:
- Melanoma mortality has decreased for women under age 50 in most of North America for the past 20 years.
- Melanoma mortality IS increasing in men over the age of 50. Yet mysteriously none of the public health messages about skin cancer target this group. (They don’t buy cosmetics).
- Men and women over 50 are substantially more at risk than young people.
- The allegation that melanoma is the most common cancer for women under 30 is completely misleading because there are so few cancers on any site in that age group.
- Dark-complected individuals with type V and VI skin almost never get melanoma. (The rates are less than 1 in 100,000). When they do one of the most common spots is on the soles of their feet - hardly a location that can be attributed to sunlight.
- Dark complected individuals DO have the highest rates of vitamin D deficiency and need the most sunlight to make vitamin D. Your advice is contributing to the cause of vitamin D deficiency, which we now know is linked to higher risks of most cancers, osteoporosis, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and many other disorders.
Come out of the dark. Teach people sunburn prevention - not sun avoidance.
Visit www.TanningTruth.com for more information.
Donna | 30-Apr-08 at 9:42 am | Permalink
Glam magazine along with every other beauty magazine are spreading the myths. You people are not educating how it should be. All you ever look at is the negative. Sorry but there IS a positive side to UV exposure. I work in a tanning salon and I’m glad to be helping people prevent sunburns and achieve good levels of Vitamin D. Stop being ignorant and post something that is true.
Gina | 06-May-08 at 3:34 pm | Permalink
This was a great informative article. I’m really glad to see you address the dangers of sun exposure with darker skins. My husband has Mediterannean roots but has had two precancerous moles removed. Everyone has to think about sun protection!