8 Dangerous skin cancer myths

It’s the season for fun in the sun! But are you unwittingly increasing your own and your family’s risk of skin cancer? Approximately 50% of people over age 65 are diagnosed with melanoma or some other type of skin cancer. Don’t be confused by these common myths about protecting your skin.

Myth 1: A beach umbrella keeps you safe from the sun.
Reality: At the beach, a large percentage of ultraviolet (UV) light bounces off the sand onto your skin, even when under a beach umbrella. Water and snow have the same reflective effect.

When boating or sitting under a beach umbrella, apply a sunscreen to all exposed areas, including your face and neck—even if you are wearing a brimmed hat. When skiing, apply sunscreen to your face and neck.

Myth 2: Sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 45 is three times more effective than SPF 15.
Reality: Most doctors recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, however a higher SPF gives you little more protection: an SPF 45 is only about 5% more protective than a 15 sunscreen.

All sunscreens need to be reapplied every two hours and whenever you are exposed to water. This includes “waterproof” sunscreens, which provide some protection while swimming but still must be reapplied.

Make sure your sunscreen is labeled “broad spectrum”—meaning that it blocks both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Look for titanium dioxide or Parson 1789 in the ingredients.

Myth 3: Sunscreen provides complete protection.
Reality: Sunscreen is essential but you should also minimize sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun is most intense. Hit the beach in the early morning and late afternoon instead of all day. Be sure to protect these commonly neglected areas by wearing:

• UV-protective lip balm with SPF 15 or higher.
• A hat with a 3 inch brim. Baseball caps will not protect ears and the back of the neck—common skin cancer sites, especially for golf and tennis players.
• Sun-protective clothing. UV rays can pass through many fabrics, including cotton. If you hold the fabric to a light bulb and can see the bulb shape through it, it will not protect you. Many companies do offer tightly woven UV protective clothing designed for comfort and maximum protection.
• If you do not have sun protective clothing, wear sunscreen under your shirt.

Myth 4: Family history is the best indicator of skin cancer risk.
Reality: A family history of skin cancer is a major risk factor, but the most important factor is your own skin type. People who have light colored skin, blue or green eyes and freckles are at highest risk for all types of skin cancer and sun related damage such as wrinkles.

People with many moles, freckles and spots have the next-highest cancer risk, followed by individuals with a family history of skin cancer. If you have any of these risk factors, carefully monitor your skin exposure. The more difficult it is for you to tan, the more vulnerable you are to skin cancer.

If you are dark-skinned, tan easily, don’t have many moles and no family history of skin cancer, your risk is low but you should still protect yourself.

Myth #5: Building a “base” tan protects against sunburn.
Reality: There is no such thing as a “safe” tan. UV exposure increases lifetime risk of skin cancer and other skin damage.

Myth #6: “Self-tanning” products help protect against sunburn.
Reality: While these products are safe and a good way to appear tan without any sun exposure, the dyes in these products do not offer any UV protection. Some products may contain sunblock but this provides only two hours of protection following application.

Myth #7: Melanoma occurs only where skin has been exposed to the sun.
Reality: Sun exposure is just one of the potential causes of melanoma. For unknown reasons, cancerous moles can also develop under the arm, between the buttocks or toes or on the bottom of the foot. If you have a mole, spot or freckle anywhere on your body that shows a sudden change in size, shape or color, get it checked out by a dermatologist.

Myth #8: Melanoma is always deadly.
Reality: When limited to the top layers of the skin, melanoma has a cure rate of 100%. That’s why it is important to do a monthly check of all skin surfaces, using a full length and handheld mirror. Also get screened annually by a dermatologist, and twice a year if you have skin cancer risk factors. During the screening, the doctor should use an epiluminescence microscopy (ELM). This new technique, which involves examining moles with a hand held microscope, detects melanoma earlier than ever.

For more on sunburn and skin cancer prevention, visit the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website.

-- From Barney J. Kenet, MD, co-author of Saving Your Skin--Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment and a dermatologist specializing in skin cancer. Dr. Kenet is a dermatologic surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hopsital in New York City.

 

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