American Cancer Society Tips

For Skin Cancer Awareness

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, accounting for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. In fact, more than one million cases of skin cancer are found in this country each year, including approximately 55,100 cases of melanoma, the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer – 700 in Connecticut.  Most skin cancers, however, can be prevented.

The best way to avoid risks of sunburn and skin damage is to adopt a year-round safe-skin regimen. Sunburn can happen when you least expect it — early in spring, late in fall, in high altitudes, on cloudy or overcast days. But it is easy to enjoy the outdoors year-round by remembering the following American Cancer Society skin protection tips:

 *Seek shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest (between 10 am and 4 pm).  Practice the shadow rule and teach it to children.  If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

 *Slip on a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun.  Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.

 *Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.  Apply a generous amount (about a palmful) and reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring.  Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.

 *Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck.  If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.

 *Wear sunglasses with 99–100 percent ultraviolet (UV) light absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.

 Parents play a special role in protecting the health of their children.  Research has shown a link between sunburns in early childhood and an increased risk of skin cancers later in life.  It is especially important for kids to protect their skin. Sunscreen is not recommended, however, for infants younger than 6 months, so keep babies out of direct sunlight and protected with comfortable clothing.

People of all ages should avoid tanning beds and sun lamps, which increase one’s exposure to UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer.  Damage from UV radiation is cumulative.

For more information about prevention and early detection of skin cancer, call the American Cancer Society 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-ACS-2345 (voice) or 866-228-4327 (TTY), or visit www.cancer.org.

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Catch Skin Cancer Early

Get familiar with your own skin, noticing the normal patterns of moles, freckles, or other spots, in order to catch anything suspicious early.  Skin cancer often starts with a change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot.  If you notice a change, show it to your doctor immediately.

Melanoma, the most serious form of the disease, usually begins as a small, molelike growth that increases in size and changes color. A simple ABCD rule outlines the warning signs of melanoma:

A is for asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.

B is for border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.

C is for color: The pigmentation is not uniform, with variable degrees of tan, brown, or black.

D is for diameter: The mole is more than six millimeters (about ¼ of an inch) wide.