Skin cancer, especially melanoma, can be fatal if it is not caught early.
Between 2,000 and 8,000 American adults die each year because of basal and scaly cancers. There are approximately 8,400 deaths per year of melanoma.
“Melanoma has a propensity to spread to other parts of the body,” explains Hurlbert.
Melanoma at any stage of progression generally requires surgery to eliminate cancer cells. In stages 3 and 4, it has spread to other areas of the skin or lymphatic vessels.
Certain cancers in the skin of basal and scaly cells may require radiation after surgery to kill the remaining tumor cells.
Myth 5: Darker people do not receive skin cancer
“People of any color or color of the skin can get UV skin cancer, the end point,” explains Hurlbert.
Skin cancer can however appear differently on darker skin, and Hurlbert says that it can be missed more frequently in people of color.
Research shows that blacks are more than three times more likely to be diagnosed with a melanoma at an advanced stage than whites.
Darker skin people also have higher rates of a rare type of skin cancer called acral lentinous melanoma, which appears on the palm of the hands, the soles of the feet and in the nail beds.
Myth 6: You will only develop melanoma if you have had years of sun exposure and burns
A single blinking sunburn in childhood or adolescence can more than double your chances of developing melanoma later in life.
“A sunburn is a sunburn too much and can damage your skin cells and potentially increase your risk of melanoma,” explains Hurlbert, adding that several serious sunburns and prolonged UV exposure during your life are worse because sun damage is cumulative. However, a single sunburn can cause lasting damage.
Myth 7: A tanning of a tanning bed protects you from sunburn and skin cancer
No tan is in good health, says Hurlbert.
“A tan is actually a sign that your skin is in distress. These are skin damage or stress response to UV exposure, “he says.
Even if you do not burn, sun exposure and tanning beds cause cellular damage that increases your risk of skin cancer.
And a tan does not protect you from sunburn. Studies have shown that basic tanning has roughly the same UV protection as sunscreen with a 3 or less SPF.
Myth 8: makeup can provide all the skin protection you need
“It’s great that some makeup and foundations contain FPS, but it is not enough,” explains Hurlbert. “You really want to set up a SPF 30 or more and putting your makeup, then reappear every two hours.”
The reapplication of sunscreen is essential, and this is generally not part of someone’s make -up routine. And it doesn’t matter how dark your skin is, everyone should wear a sunscreen and avoid being outside during the peak hours of the sun all year round, he said.
Choose a sunscreen that protects from UVA and UVB rays, is SPF 30 or more and is water resistant.
Myth 9: Sun screen is only necessary when you are outside for hours, as at the beach or at the swimming pool
The sunscreen should be part of everyone’s morning routine, even if they are going to be inside for most of the day, says Hurlbert.
“You can be outside during your journey, and you can expose the sun through the windows while you are also inside,” he said.
When you are outside for a long time, you need to reapply a sunscreen every two hours, he said.
Myth 10: Only UV exposure causes skin cancer
Although UV exposure is the main cause of skin cancer, representing up to 90% of skin cancer cases, is not the only potential cause.
“Skin cancer can work in families,” says Hurlbert. “We have not yet identified the genetics inherited from melanoma, but there are clues of what genes can be involved.”
Hurlbert says that family history is more generally a factor in adolescents and young adults who develop skin cancer. Prevention tactics for people with family history of skin cancer are the same as for everyone.
The rare subtypes of skin cancer that affect the eyes, the mucous membrane and the bottom of the hands and feet are generally not caused by exposure to UV, he says. Having a lot of moles or certain types of moles of beauty can also increase your risk of skin cancer.
The point to take away
Skin cancer affects 1 out of 5 American adults.
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, but it is not the most common.
Exposure to UV rays of the sun or tanning beds is the most common cause of skin cancer.
Early detection and treatment are essential to keep skin cancer under control.
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