Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with millions being diagnosed every year. It is also one of the most preventable and treatable (when found early) cancers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines UV radiation as a form of non-ionizing radiation from both natural and artificial sources.
The main natural source of UV radiation is the sun. Artificial sources include tanning beds, sunlamps, and lights such as mercury vapor, halogen, fluorescent, and incandescent.
Too much exposure from the sun or artificial sources of UV light has been linked to burns, premature skin aging, and skin cancer.
Skin Cancer is more common in people with certain characteristics:
- Naturally light skin that burns easily or freckles in the sun
- Blue or green eyes and blonde or red hair
- Certain types and a large number of moles
- Having a lot of scars
- A history of sunburns or tanning in the sun or tanning beds
- A family or personal history of skin cancer
- Older age
- Being on medications or having conditions that make the skin more sensitive to the sun or that suppress the immune system
According to the CDC, anyone, even individuals with darker skin tones, can have damaged skin from too much UV light; and exposure to UV rays is not the only way to get skin cancer. Protecting yourself from skin cancer can be as simple as following a few easy steps:
- Have a doctor check your skin on a regular basis.
- Stay out of the sun as much as possible.
- When in the sun, try to wear long sleeves, long pants, and a hat with a brim that shades your face, ears, and neck.
- Use a sunscreen with a label that says it is broad spectrum or is at least SPF 30 and can filter both UVA and UVB rays.
- Wear sunglasses that filter UV to protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes
- Don’t use UVA or UVB tanning beds or sunlamps.
Be savvy with UV rays and protect yourself from skin cancer!
For more information, go to https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer