How to Prevent Skin Cancer

Sun safety is one of the most important skincare lessons you can teach yourself, if only because it will help you understand how to prevent skin cancer. Though there are many risk factors involved, there are just as many habits you can adopt to help decrease your chances of developing the disease.

Sunscreen is a year round essential.

At the center of it all are ultraviolet (UV) rays, the harmful (yet invisible) light that damages skin over time. Two types of rays in particular – UVA and UVB – are responsible for doing the most damage. UVA rays penetrate deep into the epidermis, causing permanent changes to the skin; UVB rays, on the other hand, are responsible for causing sunburns. While most people lay out in the sun to catch a few rays and darken their skin's tone, they are actually doing damage – a suntan is, quite literally, a burn that occurs when the skin creates excess melanin to protect it from those dangerous UV rays. There is no such thing as a "healthy" tan; the change in skin tone occurs in response to a potential threat from the sun. The defense mechanism is in place.

Exposure to harmful UV rays doesn't necessarily come solely from spending time in the sunlight. More and more, researchers are warning against the usage of tanning salons and sun lamps. They may leave your skin with a golden glow, but they do so by emitting UV rays. Often, the rays are up to five times as strong as natural sunlight. Not only do you risk severe burns and premature aging, you increase your chances of developing skin cancer.

Other causes of skin cancer include family history, which can leave you at greater risk of developing the disease over time. Excess exposure to sunlight during the earliest years of life is also thought to increase the incidence of skin cancer; this is why it is so crucial to apply sunscreen to children of all ages when they are outdoors. Individuals with fair skin are more susceptible to the disease, too; note, however, that individuals with dark skin are not immune to the condition, though the incidence rate is lower. Of course, anyone who spends a great deal of time outdoors automatically has a higher chance of developing the disease, too, as do individuals who live in areas where the sunlight is strongest (generally nearest the equator).

Clearly, prevention of skin cancer is essential. The disease can afflict anyone, regardless of skin tone or family history, so it is important to be vigilant even if your chances of acquiring the disease are statistically low. There are a number of ways to prevent skin cancer, and they all start at home. In other words, these are things you must proactively do to protect your skin. While it can be a challenge for, say, the avid sunbather, it's well worth the effort and high quality of life and good health.

• Reduce your exposure to sunlight. This is essential! The sun's UV rays are strongest between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm. Limit your time outdoors during these hours.
• When you are headed outside, though (no matter what time it may be), apply sunscreen. The right amount for your body is roughly shot glass size. For best results, apply it at least half an hour before going outside and reapply every two hours (or more often if you're spending time in the pool or ocean).
• Choose a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). The best is one that offers broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays, like the highly regarded La Roche Posay Anthelios.
• Don't forget to apply sunscreen to those oft-neglected areas, like the ears, neck, hands and feet.
• Keep your skin covered as practically as possible when the sun is out. Of course, this is easier said than done in the summertime, but choose lightweight garments that cover your arms and legs if possible.
• Don't forget to wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your face.
• Protect your children, as these formative years are the most important in preventing the development of skin cancer later in life. Keep babies under one year of age away from direct sunlight completely, and always use a sunscreen on babies over six months old.
• Finally, conduct routine spot checks of your skin to detect any skin cancer warning signs. Examine existing moles for any changes, such as discoloration, bleeding or a difference in appearance. Also watch for signs of new growths or sores that do not appear to heal.

Though every point noted is essential in understanding how to prevent skin cancer, possibly the most important of all is simply to wear sunscreen. It is not practical to avoid sunlight completely – nor is it actually necessary to do that. However, if you're avid sunbather, now is the time to start rethinking your habits and making a change for the better. It's worth it.

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