Bring on the sun and the sunscreen: May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

The month of May marks both the beginning of sunny summer weather, and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. More than 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Canada each year, making it one of the most prevalent types of cancer. Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable. Skin Cancer Awareness Month aims to inform Canadians about all they need to know to keep themselves and their loved ones sun-safe and cancer-free.

What causes skin cancer?

About 90% of skin cancers are caused by UV rays, such as those from the sun, which can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes without protection – even when it is cloudy and overcast. Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to anyone, at any age, which is why you should always wear sunscreen when you step outside, especially during the sunny summer weather.

Types of skin cancer

There are multiple types of skin cancers, and although Melanoma – caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays – is one of the most dangerous, it is also one of the most preventable. Melanoma can appear anywhere on your body, and often starts as an abnormal mole. You can use the ABCDE rule to examine moles and look for the common signs and symptoms of Melanoma:

1. Asymmetry: do both halves of the mole match?
2. Border: are the edges uneven, irregular, or notched?
3. Colour: are there odd colours or many shades (brown, black, blue, red, pink or white)?
4. Diameter: is the size larger than 6 mm (1/4 inch) or roughly that of a pencil eraser?
5. Evolution: has there been a change in size, shape, colour, or feel? Has it become itchy, or have a burning or tingling feeling to it?

Risk factors

While skin cancer can affect anyone, there are some factors that determine if you are at a higher risk, including:

• Your complexion: people who are fair-skinned have less melanin in their skin (the substance that produces skin pigmentation) meaning they also have less protection against the sun’s damaging UV rays.
• Your moles: the risk of skin cancer is greater for people with 50 or more moles.
• Your family history: having a family member with skin cancer, especially a close relative like a parent, sibling, or child, puts you at higher risk.
• Your sunburn history: people who have had one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child or teen have an increased risk for melanoma.
• Your use of tanning bed: tanning beds cause a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma when used before the age of 30.People are more likely to develop skin cancer from using a tanning bed than developing lung cancer from smoking.
• Your history of skin cancer: once you’ve had skin cancer, your risks for developing it again increase.

Ways to prevent skin cancer

One in every three cancers diagnosed worldwide is skin cancer, 80-90% of which are caused by UV rays. You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by reducing your exposure to UV rays:

• Watch the UV Index. Regardless of the forecast, keep an eye on the UV Index and be sure to protect your skin when the UV Index is 3 or higher.
• Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants, sport a wide-brimmed hat made from breathable material, and make sure your sunglasses provide protection from UVA and UVB rays.
• Use sunscreen. Your sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 30 and be labelled “broad spectrum” and “water resistant.” Remember, your skin can be damaged by UV rays even when it’s cloudy or overcast, so be sure to always wear sunscreen when the UV Index is 3 or higher, regardless of the forecast.
• Limit your time in the sun. Canada’s UV Index is highest between 11am and 3pm, so either keep out of the sun or limit your sun exposure during those times. A trick to remember – when your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is strong.
• Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds are not a “healthy” alternative to sun exposure. They can damage your skin and increase your risk of developing melanoma.

There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than the number of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined! Fortunately, it is also the most preventable type of cancer and, when caught early enough, one of the most curable.

Learn more on the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation’s website or by visiting the Government of Canada’s Skin Cancer webpage.