Killer Rays: If you are spending the holiday outside, wear your sunscreen - just like mom told you. Protect your skin from the aging effects of sunshine, and avoid possibly deadly tumors. Protect Yourself Danger! Sun at Work J. Robert Connor, Medical Writer The sun shines many benefits upon the earth, but it also causes skin cancer. Sun damage occurs year-round, summer and winter. Nevertheless, there are ways to avoid sun damage. Stay out of the sun. Wear protective clothing. Use sunscreen. Now listen as experts from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) tell you how to protect your skin, what causes sun damage and what its effects are, and what you can do to prevent sun damage. "Skin has a memory." It keeps track "of all the sun damage that's accumulated over the years," says Arthur Sober, MD, associate chief of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. All ultraviolet (UV) light damages your skin. That is why dermatologists recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. What's the difference between UVA and UVB? UVAs are deep-penetrating, longer rays that remain relatively constant year-round. They can cause all types of skin cancer and seem to be the rays that cause premature skin aging. UVBs are short-wave rays that don't penetrate deeply but are more likely to burn. They tend to be harshest in summer. They can cause all types of skin cancer. Look Younger
"More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in 1999," says Darrell Rigel, MD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. "Worse yet, the rate of melanoma, the most dangerous of skin cancers, is doubling every 8 to 10 years." The lifetime chance of getting skin cancer is one in five. Basal Cell CarcinomaBasal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It accounts for 80% of all skin cancers diagnosed in the United States. This year, the AAD forecasts that 1-million-plus cases will be diagnosed and treated. If caught early, the cure rate is better than 95%. If untreated, basal cell carcinoma can cause considerable tissue damage and result in disfigurement.Usually, basal cell carcinoma looks like a pearly growth. Sometimes, there's an area that won't heal. The carcinoma may be translucent and gradually grow, or it may look like a sore that won't heal. People who get it have received chronic sun exposure throughout their lives. Treatment is removal by freezing or surgery. Squamous Cell CarcinomaThe AAD estimates that 208,000 Typo.cases of squamous cell carcinoma will be diagnosed this year. This is the second most common form of the disease: 16% of all skin cancers. Like basal cell carcinoma, this disease is 95% curable if detected early.But squamous cell carcinoma can spread, and is potentially lethal if left untreated. It looks like a crusty, scaly patch with a hard, callused surface. People who have been exposed to the sun throughout their lives get it. Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, if caught early, is removal by freezing or surgery. If it spreads, radiation or more aggressive treatments may be required. Deadly MelanomaAlso called "malignant" melanoma, this is the least common (only 4% of diagnosed skin cancers), but the most deadly form of the disease. The odds of getting melanoma are one in 79. In fact, adds Roger Ceilley, MD, "Someone dies of melanoma every hour in the United States; and if you have a family history of the disease, you're at risk even if you've never been out in the sun."Melanoma usually looks like a pigmented mole, sometimes with an uneven border. The color and diameter may change over time. Potential victims are people who have had several blistering sunburns in youth or adolescence and those with a family history of the disease. Treatment is removal of the tumor (excision). The amount of tissue that needs to be removed depends on the tumor's thickness, so early detection means less invasive surgery. If the cancer has spread, the patient may need chemotherapy, radiation, or other treatment. Vaccines, and the study of genetics as it relates to melanoma, are important advances in helping to prevent recurrences. Skin Self-Exam
AAD StudyThe AAD, in response to a study released in 1988, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, said the study reinforces the importance of a comprehensive sun protection program. "A comprehensive sun protection program includes sun avoidance between 10 AM and 4 PM, wearing protective clothing and sunscreen," says Lynn Drake, MD. "Sunscreen alone does not protect you from skin cancer," she says. "People shouldn't feel they can stay in the sun for extended periods of time because they are wearing sunscreen and aren't burning. They are still being exposed to some solar radiation. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence that sunscreens protect against ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which are clearly linked to non-melanoma skin cancer. So we continue to recommend the use of sunscreens in conjunction with a total sun protection program."Protect YourselfSkin cancer is not completely preventable, according to the AAD, but it can be successfully treated if caught early. Here are ways to protect yourself:
© 2000 by Medscape Inc. All rights reserved. J. Robert Connor is a freelance medical writer based in Huntington, New York. Reviewed for medical accuracy by physicians
at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School.
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