May Is Also Melanoma And Skin Cancer Awareness Month

In The Month Of May, H&B Raises Awareness On Skin Cancer And Melanoma

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, and more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States than all other cancers combined. 

The most common forms of skin cancer are these three types: 

• Basal cell carcinoma, which is almost always curable.

• Melanoma, which is curable if diagnosed early but life-threatening if caught later.

• Squamous cell carcinoma, which is also curable if caught but can be life-threatening if diagnosed late. 

Because of skin cancer's high prevalence and common risk factors, including exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight and tanning devices, raising awareness has become crucial in the fight against it. That's why each May is marked to spread awareness and promote treatment and diagnosis methods for skin cancer.

Melanoma Is An Aggressive Type Of Cancer

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is a very common cancer in the United States, with more than 5 million people diagnosed each year. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are nonmelanoma skin cancers, are the most common types of skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body. 

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. It is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body than the more common forms of skin cancer.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays causes most cases of melanoma. To lower your skin cancer risk, protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning.

Summer is full of outdoor activities. You probably put sunscreen on yourself and your kids when you go to the pool or the beach. But do you know you should protect your skin with more than just sunscreen anytime you’re outside?

Sun protection is important all year round, and it’s best to use several different kinds. When you’re working in the yard or taking an afternoon walk, make sun safety an everyday routine so you can avoid getting a sunburn and lower your chance of getting skin cancer.

What Are The Causes Of Skin Cancer?

Unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is the culprit of most cases of skin cancer, though there are other causes as well. Genetics can play a role in skin cancer development; about 10% of people diagnosed with melanoma have some genetic predisposition.

Other risk factors for skin cancer include:

• Having fair skin, especially those with freckles or those who burn easily.

• Having many moles.

• Having a family history of skin cancer.

• Exposure to UV sunlight and tanning beds.

Despite the increased use of sunscreen over the last 3 decades, the incidence of melanoma is increasing. We are learning that the ultraviolet A (UVA) rays can be just as damaging as ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, and only some sunscreens include coverage for UVA rays. Noting the increase in skin cancer despite sunscreen, it's important to look at what people did before sunscreen became widely available. They often avoided the sun's rays between 10 am and 2 pm. They wore hats and used umbrellas to protect themselves. They also dressed wisely, using clothing to protect their skin when needed.

Discovery Of Ultraviolet Rays And The Development Of Protection Against Them

In the 1800s, ultraviolet rays were discovered. Scientists also realized that skin could be protected by filtering out ultraviolet rays. Chemist Eugene Schueller launched the first commercial sunscreen in 1936. In the 1940s, Benjamin Greene developed the well-known brand Coppertone, using coconut oil and cocoa butter. However, while Coppertone prevented sunburn, it did not block ultraviolet rays. Skin cancer was on the rise as a result.

In 1962, Franz Greiter developed a method to measure a substance’s ability to block ultraviolet rays. This is known as the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). SPF is now the standard to measure sunscreen’s effectiveness. This breakthrough launched a sun protection market that grew to a billion-dollar industry today.

SPF works by telling the user the amount of time it takes the skin to burn when exposed to the sun with protection as opposed to the amount of time without protection. If used correctly, a product with SPF 30 will take the sun 30 times longer to burn the skin than without protection. Likewise, a product with SPF 50 will take 50 times longer. The greater the SPF, the longer the protection from the sun’s rays.

Today, sun protection is usually used in sunscreen or sunblock form. Sunscreen is made of chemicals that block UV rays, such as oxybenzone and dibenzoyl methane. Sunblocks provide a physical barrier between the sun’s rays and the skin, using minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

It’s also important to keep our skin well moisturized at all times. This is why Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B, recommends using Lindi Soothing Balm, great at helping relieve discomfort from radiation burn and sunburns, and O Skin Love - Hyaluronic Acid Serum, a cleanser created with love and intention, for a deep facial experience from the comfort of your own home.