Bad news, Beach Babies, skin cancer is the most common cancer in America.
Even worse news, Baby Boomers, all those hours you spent frying like a slab of bacon under a summer sun or in a tanning bed during your youth will likely come back to haunt you.
While the White House considers methods to block the sun’s rays as a way to curb climate change, the Centers for Disease Control are shining a light on another equally pressing sun-related problem: skin cancer.
The CDC recently released an alert, warning people that “Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays causes most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer.”
“Even if you’ve got a lifetime history of just one sunburn, you will increase your lifetime risk of developing different forms of skin cancer, including melanoma, as you get older,” said Alix Charles, chairman of the department of Dermatology at Duly Health and Care, based in Downers Grove.
“Unfortunately, old burns come back to haunt people,” Charles said.
In fact, he said, “Young Caucasian women with fair skin who get five or more blistering sunburns between (the ages of) 15 and 20 have an 80% risk for developing malignant melanoma.
“It’s distressing,” he said, “but sun exposure in the early teens or early 20s can come back to haunt you with skin cancer in your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.”
Skin cancer is most common type of cancer that occurs in human beings, in part because there is more than one kind, Charles said.
The deadliest kind, melanoma, is the rarest, affecting 1% of the population, but it causes the majority of skin-cancer related deaths, he said. It presents as a brown or black slow-growing patch, with an irregular border, with portions either raised or not.
Charles said the pneumonic ABCDE can help you remember the signs:
Asymmetric;
Border irregularity;
Color variation;
Diameter greater than 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser);
Evolving and changing.
Basel cell carcinoma comprises almost 90% of all skin cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma comprises another 9%. They present differently and may look like an insect bite or pimple, grow slowly, and may bleed easily when touched. Squamous cell spots may be exquisitely tender, Charles said. Both are easily treatable but can become problematic if ignored.
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Go to the American Academy of Dermatology’s website, aad.org, for more information.
Meanwhile, take steps to protect yourself against UV rays. That begins with letting go of two serious misconceptions:
A base tan does not protect you from a burn. “That’s a myth,” Charles said. “A tan is actually a sign of damage from the sun.”
Sunscreen alone is not enough protection, both Charles and the CDC states. Equally important as SPF, he said, or even more important, is to seek shade when you can. The most dangerous time to be in the sun, he said, is between 10 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.
“When you see your shadow is shorter than your own body height, that means the sun is more directly overhead. It’s time to seek shade,” he said.
Opt for at least SPF30 and reapply it every 90 minutes, even on cloudy days, Charles said. Wear wide brim hats as well as sun protective clothing on arms and legs. If you’re going swimming, wear a rash guard, he added.
People of Celtic or Scandinavian heritage, or who have fair skin, the kind that does not tend to tan but burns more easily, tend to be most at risk. Also, he added, people with red hair or blue or green eyes, lots of freckles or moles are at a greater risk, as are older people and those with a family history of melanoma.
While people of color are at a lower risk for developing all forms of skin cancer, that doesn’t mean they are completely immune, he said.
A subset of malignant melanoma can occur on the hands and feet.
“It is one of the worst forms and happens to be the most common type diagnosed in African Americans. It is a disservice to the public to not let people of color know they too are at risk for developing skin cancer,” he said.
It is important for all people to know what all kinds of skin cancer can look like.
The good news, Charles said, is that skin cancer is unique from other cancers because it affords you the opportunity to detect it. And more people are doing just that. It’s a good idea to get a baseline exam, he said, and have regular checkups.
“Skin cancer is usually something you can see. It’s not hidden away like breast cancer or other kinds of cancer,” he said. “People who know what to look for are usually in a better position to address it and protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Another plus: You can limit your risks by limiting exposure to UV light. The public is in a good position to protect itself and detect it early, he said.
Lastly, if you simply must cling to the false notion that tanned skin is healthy skin, opt for a bronzer. You can get the look you want without all scary stuff.
Donna Vickroy is an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist who worked for the Daily Southtown for 38 years.