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Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, every year, more than 3.3 million Americans are treated for nonmelanoma skin cancer, with more than 5.4 million cases in all. Twenty percent of Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. 

The primary cause of most skin cancer cases is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The two main types of ultraviolet rays that damage skin are UVA and UVB. The UV radiation source that people are mainly exposed to is natural sunlight. Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause nearly 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and more than 85 percent of melanomas (The Skin Cancer Foundation). 

No Tanning BedAnother source of UV radiation that many people encounter is from tanning beds. Individuals who tan indoors before turning 35 have a 59 percent higher risk of developing melanoma, and their risk increases with every additional indoor tanning session (American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Indoor tanning even raises melanoma risk in people who never sunburn. If you think tanning indoors just once won't cause any damage – think again. "Even one indoor tanning session can increase users’ risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67 percent and basal cell carcinoma by 29 percent" (AAD). Tanning indoors can also cause premature aging of the skin, cataracts, melanoma of the eye and a suppressed immune system, which increases your risk for many other types of cancers. 

Many people believe that a "base tan" will protect them from future UV exposure, but this is false. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "People who indoor tan are more likely to report getting sunburned." No matter how light or dark, tanned skin is damaged skin. Another indoor tanning myth that many people believe is that tanning beds can give you an adequate amount of vitamin D. However, tanning beds primarily expose you to UVA rays, which penetrate beyond skin's surface layers. According to NYU School of Medicine's Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, "It is UVB (the sun burning rays) — not UVA — which helps the skin make vitamin D, so you are increasing your risk of skin cancer without receiving any benefit!" 

Now that you know why it's important to stay safe in the sun, here's how to do so:

  1. Use sunscreen.
    • Choose sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher with both UVA and UVB protection ("broad spectrum protection").
    • Apply 15 minutes before exposure to the sun.
    • Reapply every two hours. 
    • Don't forget to protect your lips! Wear lip balm with an SPF rating of 15 or higher and reapply often.
  2. Seek shade. 
    • The most important time of day to seek shade from the sun's harmful rays is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  3. Wear sun-protective clothing.Sun Protection
    • A typical t-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so look for clothing made from tightly woven fabric. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants that fit loosely offer the best protection. Wearing sun-protective clothing can help reduce sun exposure, but it's still important to use other types of protection, like wearing sunscreen. 
  4. Wear a hat.
    • Hats with a brim that spans all the way around offer the most protection since your face, ears and neck will be shaded. Hats made of tightly woven fabric, like canvas, work best.
  5. Wear sunglasses.
    • Sun exposure can end up causing cataracts, skin cancer on the delicate skin around your eyes, and melanoma of the eye.
    • The American Cancer Society recommends wearing "wrap-around sunglasses with 99% to 100% UVA and UVB absorption" in order to get the best protection. 
  6. Avoid indoor tanning. 
    • If you are dead-set on achieving a "sun-kissed glow," try using a self-tanning product. Click here to learn about sunless tanning.  

This summer, make it your goal to adopt Habit #2 of our Healthy Lifestyle Habits to Reduce Cancer Risk, and always remember that tanned skin is damaged skin.

 

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