Skin cancer has been and continues to be a major concern for people in the United States and around the world. There are over 3.5 million types of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States each year, affecting 2 million people.1 Skin cancer is actually affecting more people each year than the combined cases of colon, lung, prostate, and breast cancer.1 Twenty percent of Americans will experience skin cancer at some point during their lives.1
General Guidelines on Preventing Skin Cancer
One of the most tried and true methods for reducing one’s risk of skin cancer is to avoid the strongest of the sun’s rays. This typically occurs between 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.2 Since many people are outside during this time period, whether it is for work or recreation, the best advice is to spend as much time in the shade as possible.
Another tried and true method for reducing one’s risk of skin cancer is to NOT use tanning and UV tanning booths.2 These dangerous devices will elevate one’s chances of developing skin cancer. In addition, these devices have few regulations and little oversight because they have been classified as “Class I medical devices.”3 
Of course, one of the most talked-about and effective measures of protecting yourself from the rays of the sun is via covering up your skin. Granted, if you are planning to spend time on the beach or in the water when you’re on vacation, you are not wanting to dress like you’re in Antarctica or some other frigid climate, but you still want to reduce your exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation as much as possible. This means wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that have UV-blocking shades when you are spending time on the beach.
Perhaps the most essential tool in your fight against the ultraviolet radiation that is a prominent contributor to your risk of skin cancer is sunscreen. Specifically, you want to use a “broad spectrum sunscreen” (i.e. one that protects from both UVA and UVB rays) that has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 each day you spend some notable time in the sunlight.3 You should really consider a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or higher if you plan on spending significant time outdoors in the sun’s ultraviolet rays.3
It’s also important to note that you should use sunscreen regularly throughout the day when you are at the beach, as a sunscreen’s protective ability fades over time. This is especially true if you are in and out of the water throughout the day or excessively sweat from the heat and humidity. Most experts suggest using a shot glass full of sunscreen (approximately 1 ounce) to fully cover and protect your body from the harmful rays of the sun.4
What Is Your Risk For Skin Cancer?
In order to determine your risk for skin cancer, you need to know the risk factors that can increase your chances of contracting skin cancer at some point in the future. One main factor for increasing your odds of contracting skin cancer is your age, as most cases of skin cancer occur after the age of 50.5 However, it’s important to note that the damage that led to skin cancer often occurs much earlier than age 50, but that it takes quite a while before the skin cancer actually develops.
Another major factor that can increase your odds of contracting skin cancer is how much sun exposure you have had throughout your lifetime. If you absorbed much sunlight over the years without adequate sun protection, you likely will be at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.6
This last factor ties into another major factor that can put you at greater risk of contracting skin cancer – where you live. If you live in a place closer to the equator, you receive a greater amount of UV radiation from the sun than those who live farther from the equator.5 As a result, those who predominantly live in the states of Florida, Louisiana, or Texas have greater risk factors for skin cancer than those who predominantly in the states of Minnesota, Maine, and Washington.
Specific Actions to Take to Reduce Your Risk of Skin Cancer
Fortunately, there are specific steps you can take to help reduce your risk of skin cancer, depending on your gender and how active you are in your lifestyle. Men are especially apprehensive about using sunscreen, partly due to their scents (“too feminine”) and partly due to the ways they make their skin feel (“too oily”).
However, the risk of men contracting skin cancer is real, as it is the most common type of cancer among men over the age of 50. Add to that the fact that 1 in 41 (2.4%) men are diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetimes, and the time for men to overcome their apprehension of using sunscreen must begin now.
Women often wonder whether their makeup and topical medications should go on first or their sunscreen. This is important to consider, as women need to be aware of the proper order so that they have maximum protection from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Putting them on in the wrong order can certainly weaken or even neutralize the effectiveness of the sunscreen, as if a woman doesn’t have any sunscreen on at all.
Those who live active lifestyles, such as those who often compete in sports, especially need to be aware of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. This isn’t just true of those who participate in sports where the sun is prominent, such as beach volleyball and golf, but also in sports where a colder climate is present, including skiing and snowboarding.
You Can Reduce Your Risk of Skin Cancer If You Act
You can take steps to reduce your risk of skin cancer if you take action and reduce your exposure to the sun. This is important regardless if you are a man or a woman or if you spend a great or a small amount of time outside in the sunlight. By taking action as early as possible, you increase your chances of avoiding skin cancer and the complications caused by its presence in your life.
References
1 The Skin Cancer Home Page. (2011). National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/skin
2 Tanning. I(2011) U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from: www.fda.gov/radiation-emittingproducts/radiationemittingproductsandprocedures/tanning/default.htm
3 Ibid
4 Sunscreen and Skin Cancer.(2011). Yale Medical Group. Retrieved from: www.yalemedicalgroup.org/stw/Page.asp?PageID=STW014824
5 Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle. (2011). National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health: understandingrisk.cancer.gov/a_Skin/02.cfm
6 Ibid
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