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Skin Cancer
Giving Skin Cancer The Slip
April 6, 2007
Between Florida's beaches and cruise ships, Georgia's families will be more exposed to dangerous UV rays than ever this year, which increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
It is projected that nearly 60,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, this year, and over 8,000 people will die from it.
Refreshingly, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants does not use scary statistics to preach abstinence from the sun, but rather, to encourage indulgent skin care.
"You've got to go out and live your life but you also have to protect yourself," advises GAPA member Amy Hodge, MPA, PA-C of Olansky Dermatology Associates in Atlanta. "The majority of the damage done to skin is before a person is 18 years old. You think you're invincible as a teenager but it comes back to bite you as an adult. That's why it's important to protect the skin when you are young."
Hodge cautioned that one of the biggest barriers to sun protection is the misunderstanding of how sunscreen works. Traditionally, it protects the skin from ultraviolet B (UVB rays), but it is thought that the worst skin cancer - melanoma - is caused by ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which are only intercepted for the first two hours after sunscreen is applied.
She also says that people don't use enough sunscreen to get the sun protection factor (SPF) that is advertised on the bottle.
"Nobody puts on sunscreen like cake icing which is what you need to do," Hodge explains. "They say you should use a shot glass full for a body part to get the full protection factor."
Thanks to science, new sunscreens with UVA protection are hitting the market and Hodge suggests people use them.
At the top of her list is Neutrogena's sun care products with helioplexTM. For beach bums or anyone who will be in the sun, Hodge recommends using the Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55 or 70 in the morning. Then, she advises touch ups every two hours with Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 30 or 45. For everyday use, she recommends Anthelios SX by L'Oreal, which protects against UVA and UVB rays for six hours.
For the people out there who refuse to wear sunscreen, there is a pill that helps protect against sun damage on the market. Heliocare is an herbal supplement - an extract from a fern in South America to be exact - that decreases phototoxicity, the severe reaction to light that causes sunburn. At $1 a pill, Hodge recommends one pill 30 minutes before exposure and a second capsule two to three hours after the initial capsule. This may be useful for obstinate husbands who refuse to wear sunscreen at tennis matches or for anyone on vacation where there is severe sunlight exposure.
"This is not a substitute for sunscreen but is better than nothing," she cautions.
Other ways to avoid the cancer-causing rays include wearing wide brimmed hats, staying in the shade between 10 am and 3 pm, wearing tight woven fabrics (Land's End has a line), and avoiding tanning beds like the plague.
"Self tanners are safe and they can give you a little color," Hodge says. "They've definitely evolved from the orange look."
Aside from preventive tactics, the best thing people can do to protect themselves from skin cancer's worst outcome - death - is to get moles checked annually and do monthly self-exams.
"You'd be surprised at how many people don't look at their body. It's important to look at your back, nether regions, and between the toes. Just like you should do monthly breast exams, you need to do a monthly mole check," Hodge insisted. "You can also get your partner to check you monthly. Recent studies have proven this improves detection of skin cancer."
Skin Cancer Types, Warning Signs, and Risk Factors
For more information on the skin cancer types and to see what warning signs to look for, visit www.skincancer.org.
Melanoma is the most serious of the skin cancers and will be responsible for over 8,000 deaths this year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Scientists are beginning to believe that melanoma is caused by extreme sun exposure where the skin is burned. Good news - melanoma is curable if it is caught and treated early. It's important to check moles and dark spots on the skin for irregularities such as asymmetrical moles, moles or spots of varying colors. People who are at a high risk include those who live or have lived in abnormally sunny areas of the country near the equator, such as Florida; people with over 100 moles on their bodies, fair skin, or a weakened immune system; and people with a family or personal history of melanoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer. Scientists are beginning to believe that this type of skin cancer is caused by chronic exposure to the sun, often attacking people who work in the sun such as landscapers, or are outside on a regular basis, such as tennis players. People with fair skin are also at risk. Watch out for open sores that persist for more than three weeks, red patches, pearly moles, pink growths, or white/yellow patches on the skin.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a very common skin cancer and is not very serious in most cases. Similar to basal cell, squamous is thought to be caused by chronic exposure to the sun, often attacking people who work in the sun such as landscapers, or are outside on a regular basis, such as tennis players. It may also occur where there has been trauma to the skin from scars, burns, chemicals, etc. Any one who has had high sun exposure is at risk, but people with fair skin and light eyes; people who have had skin cancer in the past; and people with a reduced immunity system are at the greatest risk.
Debunking the "Vitamin D Deficiency by Sunscreen" Myth
According to GAPA member Amy Hodge, MPA, PA-C of Olansky Dermatology Associates in Atlanta, a recent study rather recklessly recommended sun exposure as a healthy way to stock up on Vitamin D. Further, she said that it bemoaned the use sunscreen, cautioning that it prevents people from receiving the needed amount of Vitamin D from the sun. In reality, she says, two minutes of sun a day is enough. And for those who are worried that they're not getting enough Vitamin D, it's worth checking into supplements instead of exposing skin to cancer-causing ultraviolet rays.
Visit the links below for more information on osteoarthritis and treatment:
Skin Cancer Foundation
WebMD
National Cancer Institute
Sun Safety Alliance
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