Every summer, we race to beaches and pools, lakes and mountains to take advantage of longer days and the warmth of the sun. But with that increased outdoor activity comes the question: What’s the best way to protect our skin from skin cancer?
“Practicing good sun protection habits from childhood is the best strategy,” Dr. Mark Lowitt, a dermatologist with the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, told the Catholic Review. “The biggest problem here is that being in the sun feels good! And we generally enjoy activities that get us outdoors.”
He recommends periodic examination of the skin at home, either on your own or by recruiting a family member, to check for suspicious lesions. If suspicious lesions are found, head to your primary care physician or local dermatologist.
Lowitt, who also is a cantor at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, ticked off several measures people can take when having fun in the sun. First is the most well-known: sunscreens. He recommends sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 for most people, and an SPF of 50 those with elevated risk.
Wearing sun protective clothing is an even more effective approach. “Shirts provide sun protection – rated with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rather than SPF – are now available in all styles, from surfer shirts to traditional polos, blouses, and button downs,” he said. “They provide more reliable protection and if you wear them you don’t have to apply sunscreen all over.”
Choosing the time you’re in the sun also is important, he said, noting that sun intensity and associated skin cancer risk is highest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m
When it comes to skin cancer risk, “unfortunately, people of all skin types are still at some risk and must always pay attention to suspicious lesions on their skin,” Lowitt said. Internal factors like genetic risks – think fair, freckly skin, or external factors such as extensive past sun exposure – can make the difference and lead to skin cancer in some people.
Skin cancer has been on the rise for many decades, and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, he said. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common, with 3.6 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Next up are squamous cell carcinomas, with 1.8 million cases a year.
Most nonmelanoma skin cancers are treated surgically by a simple incision. Other options include freezing, scraping, or even some prescription creams, he explained.
Over the past 10 years, the number of new invasive melanomas found each year jumped 27 percent. “Fortunately, the number of new melanomas in 2023 is expected to decrease by 5.6 percent,” Lowitt said.
When it comes to detecting melanoma, it’s best to know your ABCs – and Ds and Es, he said:
- Assymetry: One side of the lesion look different from the other
- Border: the lesion has a wavy or unusually shaped border rather than simply being round
- Color: multiple colors are seen such as different shades of brown or black, or pink and brown mixed together
- Diameter: lesions are larger than the size of a pencil eraser
- Evolution: lesions are changing and look different from the rest of “the pack.”
Melanomas can be treated with a large incision if detected early. In some cases, melanoma patients will need to have nearby lymph nodes tested for possible tumor spread and growth. Those with advanced cases can be treated with a variety of systemic medications, including immunotherapies, Lowitt said. “This area of treatment has enormously progressed over the past decade.”
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