There are a handful of relatively easy precautions you can take every day to protect yourself from unnecessary risks to your health and safety.1 You can, for instance, wear a seatbelt, look both ways before crossing the street, avoid fatty foods, and abstain from smoking. These simple actions can quickly become habits and save or prolong your life.
We don’t often think of sunscreen in the same category as seatbelts, but we should because sunscreen can save your life. The problem is awareness; you can’t protect yourself from something you don’t known about. Most people think the worst possible result of basking in the sun is a mildly uncomfortable sunburn. But the scientific research has been warning us of more severe consequences for quite some time.
Save Your Skin
Most Americans know that smoking causes lung cancer. What many don’t know is that studies have shown that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun is the leading cause of a life-threatening form of skin cancer called melanoma. 1 UV rays are a type of radiation which can weaken the body’s immune system, prohibiting it from fighting against the development and expansion of skin cancer.2
You may have seen tanning companies advertise that tanning beds and sun lamps are safer than natural tanning. This is a gimmick to get you to go to their stores. According to the American Cancer Society, tanning booths admit UV radiation, which can damage your DNA and cause skin cancer.3
Yet, despite the evidence showing the danger of sun exposure and tanning, a recent survey done by the National Cancer Institute discovered that only 44.5 percent of young people ranging from 18 to 24 said that they consistently protect themselves from UV radiation.4 We have all felt the pressure to get that perfect bronze tan, but is it really worth the risk of getting skin cancer? Do your skin a favor: avoid tanning beds. But if you absolutely must have a tan, get a spray tan or use artificial tanning lotion.
Myths about Sunscreen
There are a variety of things you can do to protect yourself from UV rays like wearing wide-rim hats to protect your face and neck and seeking shade when outdoors. Regular use of sunscreen is one of the easiest and most important steps you can take to reduce your risk of skin cancer. When used properly, sunscreen can help absorb the sun’s harmful UV radiation.
Some people are hesitant to use sunscreen because they’ve heard that some of its ingredients may actually cause skin cancer, but this is a myth. The fabrication stems from the Environmental Working Group’s study which claims that a form of vitamin A called Retinyl palmitate, an ingredient in many sunscreens, causes skin cancer when exposed to sunlight. Recent scientific studies, however, have refuted this claim.5
Using Sunscreen Properly
Making a habit of using sunscreen is a small price to pay to ensure the health of your skin. But sunscreen is not going to protect you if you don’t use it properly. Applying a quick squirt or spray of whatever sunscreen is at hand may be enough to satisfy your conscience but it won’t be enough to shield your epidermis.
There are several factors that can help you maximize the effectiveness of your sunscreen. The first is selecting a sunscreen that is right for you. Sunscreens come in a variety of forms ranging from lip balm to lotion to spray. Selecting the right one can be a difficult task, as there are a wide variety of products on the market that claim to offer a wide variety of protection. That is why the FDA has issued new regulations to make sunscreen labeling more accurate and user-friendly. Here are some helpful guidelines for selecting sunscreen:
- Avoid anything under SPF 15.
- Use broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
- Cosmetic creams with sunscreen in them are not suitable for prolonged sun exposure.
- Water-resistant sunscreens can lose their effectiveness after 40 minutes in the water.
- Look for products with the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Sunscreen Seal of Approval.
A second way to help you get the most out of your sunscreen is to know how to apply it correctly. If you want the best results, make sure you follow these guidelines:
- Apply 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.
- Reapply after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.
- Reapply every two hours.
- Use even on cloudy days.
- Rub on vulnerable areas such as the face, ears, hands, feet, back, and neck.
Studies have shown that many people only use 20 to 50 percent of the adequate amounts of sunscreen.6 This can actually be counterproductive. With sunscreen on, people are likely to stay out in the sun longer, even if they use an insufficient amount of sunscreen. So thinking that they are protected, they actually expose themselves to even more harmful doses of UV radiation. So the bottom line is you need to use at least one ounce of sunscreen to cover your body. In practical terms, that’s enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass.
Being informed is the first step in developing a healthy lifestyle. But acting on the information you know is just as important. Following these guidelines will help you reduce your chance of skin cancer and preserve the health of your skin. The small amount of time and effort it takes to apply sunscreen is worth it.
References
1 Jopson, J., & Elwood, J. (1997). Melanoma and sun exposure: an overview of published studies. International Journal of Cancer, 198-203.
2 Sunscreens. (2011). Retrieved from American Academy of Dermatology: www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sunscreens
3 Suntan or Booth Tan: Your Skin Can’t Tell the Difference. (2011). Retrieved from American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org/Cancer/News/ExpertVoices/post/2011/05/26/Suntan-or-Booth-Tan-Your-Skin-Cant-Tell-the-Difference.aspx
4 National Cancer Institute. (2010). Cancer Trends Progress Report – 2009/2010 Update. Bethesda: National Cancer Institute.
5 Wang, S., Dusza, S., & Lim, H. (2010). Safety of retinyl palmitate in sunscreens: a critical analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 903-906.
6 Neale, R., Williams, G., & Green, A. (2002). Application patters among participants randomized to daily sunscreen use in a skin cancer prevention trial. Archives of Dermatology, 1319-1325.
______________________________________________________________
DISCLAIMER:
The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Our content is not medical advice you should seek a licensed physician or health professional regarding all health issues. SKIN-CANCER.ORG takes no responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, or application of medication which results from reading this site.