Everyone knows that tobacco use increases the risk of lung cancer, but the link between sun exposure and skin cancer is less well-known. More individuals are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than any other kind of cancer combined, and over 5 million instances of nonmelanoma skin cancer are treated each year. It indicates that you, or someone you know, likely has an extremely high risk of acquiring skin cancer. Fortunately, one may take measures to lessen one’s risk of developing skin cancer. For instance, consulting a reputable dermatologist such as Michael Rains M.D., FAAD, and following the following guidelines can help maintain healthy skin.
- Visit the doctor once a year
Regular appointments with the dermatologist may help you monitor any changes to your skin. This alteration is a telltale sign of skin cancer and should be looked into immediately. When seen by a layperson, skin cancer might easily be mistaken for a persistent zit or a benign mole. The critical point is that if you do not know what to look for, skin cancer might seem to be relatively harmless.
- Wear sun-protective clothes
Put on sun-protective clothes with a UPF of 50+, keeping out 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. Wearing a hat with a broad brim and long-sleeved, sun-protective clothes may help shield your skin from the sun’s rays. Skin cancer-causing UV rays may penetrate through even the thickest sunscreen.
- Always use sun protection, and remember to reapply it throughout the day
It would help if you didn’t skip the sunscreen because it’s overcast outside; UV rays may penetrate clouds and cause skin harm. It would help if you reapplied sunscreen every 20 minutes when exercising or in the water. Keeping up with reapplications is essential between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Dermatologists advise using an SPF 30+ water-resistant, wide-ranging sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection.
- Check your skin from head to toe once a month
You are looking for new moles and other skin irregularities that may point to cellular expansion. Verify that your skin has not experienced any changes. If you are concerned about a mole or freckle, you should see a dermatologist. You should see a dermatologist immediately if a mole you have had for a long time begins bleeding or expanding.
- Don’t use tanning beds
Occasionally, the radiation from indoor tanning beds is much more intense than natural sunlight. Mutations in skin cells may result. Once cells have a mutation, they continue to divide and multiply, eventually becoming malignant tumors. Damage to the skin’s outermost layer, the epidermis, and the deeper layer, the dermis, is what ultimately leads to wrinkles. Years in the sun cause the skin to become fragile, wrinkly, and sometimes even expressionless.
A tan, burn, or freckle is an unhealthy deviation from your normal skin tone that may lead to skin cancer. Don’t hesitate to consult a doctor if you see anything out of the ordinary on your skin. A dermatologist can successfully treat skin cancer when detected at an early stage. Everyone is susceptible to sun damage; therefore, these precautions are essential for everyone with pale skin. You can avoid skin cancer, premature aging, and wrinkles by using SPF, avoiding prolonged sun exposure, and wearing protective clothing while outside.
