The sun is beginning to shine, and soon school will be out for the summer. Everyone is excited to use their extra time to get outside and enjoy the sun. But when getting some extra color this summer, it’s important to know the dangers of UV (ultraviolet) radiation and how to safely tan.
Not many people know that skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer. And anybody, old or young, can get it. While this disease can be deadly, it is highly treatable, and easy to prevent. Stopping skin cancer before it starts should be top priority this summer. The best way to protect yourself is by wearing the correct amount of sunscreen.
We associate sunscreen with the term SPF [sun protection factor] . A lot of people think that SPF is a measure of the amount of time a certain sunscreen will protect you for. But this is false. In a heyday skincare article by Hanna Yowell: Sunscreen 101: Everything You Need To Know About SPF, Yowell informs us on the product and how it’s measured on a scale.
“SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor,’ and it’s how we measure the protection from the sun’s UVB [a type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun] rays.” Yowell said. “For example, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. Experts recommend staying between 30 and 50 SPF.”
Yowell also talks about the 2 key types of sunscreen, the difference being their ingredients. One type reflects UV rays, the other absorbs them.
“[The two key types,] Physical (a.k.a. mineral) and chemical. Both absorb the sun’s UV rays to help prevent skin damage, but physical sunscreen can reflect some UV rays,” Yowell said.
General dermatology nurse at Dermatology at Midtowne, Lisa Brown, shares some tips on staying protected before a long day out in the sun.
“You should put a shot glass sized amount of sunscreen on your entire body and rub it in and let it dry. Most people don’t use enough sunscreen,” Brown said. If you’re out for longer than 2 hours the spray sunscreens are a really good defense but spray sunscreens should never be your first defense. It should only be used for reapplications.”
Sunscreen is essential for anyone planning to be out in the sun. There are also other steps you can take to be extra protected.
“Seek shade, if you can’t seek shade be protective with sun protective clothing like hats,” Brown said.
If you get skin cancer, it’s a real pain to deal with. Certain types can only be treated via surgical removal.
“Skin cancer is treated a couple different ways. If it’s a superficial skin cancer like a basal cell, there’s creams you can treat it with,” Brown said. “And the only other treatment is surgery or burning.”
Other skin cancers can spread to the inside of your body. That’s when they cause major problems.
“Melanoma can spread anywhere in your body. Whereas skin cancers like basal cells and squamous cells typically don’t spread. Some really bad squamous cells can go internally; the only way to treat that is radiation,” Brown said. “We cut the skin cancer out and send it to the lab, to make sure the margins are clear, we usually refer to a Mohs (microsurgeon) where they freeze the tissue right on sight and they take it out little by little.”
Many types of skin cancer pop up later down the line. Which is why it’s vital to protect yourself now.
“When you get skin cancer, the damage is done. And some skin cancers can pop up as late as 20 years later,” Brown said.
This was true for teacher and coach, Matt Howe, who developed a skin cancer called a basal cell on his chest after many years of not protecting himself and his skin.
“I was a fair skinned freckled boy. Didn’t wear sunscreen at all growing up, was a tennis player, was a swimmer, was outside all the time, lived at Northville Park, just didn’t take protective measures,” Howe said.
Once he got diagnosed, it was a long process to fully clear the cancer out of his chest.
“What they did was they initially cut it out, and then they sent it to a lab. And then they determined it was cancer. And then after that, they had to cut more out because my edges weren’t clear, and the hole in my chest got bigger and after both of those, it healed up, and I’ve been good to go ever since.”
Howe learned his lesson, and has been taking the correct precautions ever since.
“I’m [now] a huge sunscreen junkie. If I’m out in the sun, I am wearing sunscreen. I wear spf 30 or above at all times in Michigan and if I go closer to the equator I bump it up. So when I go on spring break, I wear SPF 50,” Howe said.
Looking a little silly is worth the trouble.
“I’m that guy with the white zinc cream all over his face that people make fun of but I also want to be here a long time,” Howe said.
If more people knew the pains that come with getting skin cancer, they may be more careful. So always make sure you always pack that sunscreen, sunglasses or a sunhat, and tell your friend about the risks of skin cancer.
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