Key TakeawaysSkin cancer is the most prevalent new cancer diagnosis in the United States.Ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage the skin any time of the year.Most skin damage that leads to skin cancer occurs in childhood and early adulthood, which is why parents must teach protective sun habits to kids early in life.
Key Takeaways
Skin cancer is the most prevalent new cancer diagnosis in the United States.Ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage the skin any time of the year.Most skin damage that leads to skin cancer occurs in childhood and early adulthood, which is why parents must teach protective sun habits to kids early in life.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. And the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is using it as an opportunity to encourage people topractice safe sun.
While most people protect their skin in the summer, dermatologists want everybody to know theirrisk factorsand take proactive measures year-round.
“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the human body. There are more skin cancers in the USA in one year than all other cancers combined,”Jill Stewart Waibel, MD, a dermatologist with Baptist Health’sMiami Cancer Institute, tells Verywell. “Daily use of physical sun protection to sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, neck, and hands is essential every day of the year.”
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Why Skin Protection Matters Year-Round
The sun emits two types of ultraviolet rays: UVA and UVB.UVA rays primarily lead to premature skin aging while UVB rays mainly cause sunburns. Ultimately, both types of rays play a role in skin cancer development.
What’s more, UV rays are reflected off both water and snow, making summer and winter activities particularly harmful to the skin. That’s why protecting your skin against UV damage matters throughout the year.
Gregory Papadeas, DO, FAADOne’s primary risk factor for skin cancer is the amount of sun exposure they have before the age of 18.
Gregory Papadeas, DO, FAAD
One’s primary risk factor for skin cancer is the amount of sun exposure they have before the age of 18.
“Dermatologists often advise that if you don’t need a flashlight, you need sunscreen,“Noëlle Sherber, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Washington, D.C., tells Verywell. “Ultraviolet rays are invisible and are present in every season, so sun protection isn’t something that you should reserve for a summer beach day. On a cloudy day, up to 80% of UV exposure remains as compared to a sunny day. UVA light can also pass through windows, even when you are indoors or in your car.”
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Tanning Beds Are Not a Safer Way to Get UV Exposure
Experts agree that tanning beds are as dangerous for your skin as time spent in the sun. “There is no safety in tanning beds,” Waibel says. “Many small doses of UV light exposure such as those that an indoor tanner might receive are more carcinogenic than the sunburn a vacationer might experience.”
Waibel adds that “there is very little regulation of indoor tanning salons, so there is great variability in operator safety.”
Jill Stewart Waibel, MDA tan will fade in a few weeks, but the effects of photoaging of the skin are everlasting.
Jill Stewart Waibel, MD
A tan will fade in a few weeks, but the effects of photoaging of the skin are everlasting.
Dermatologists are seeing an alarming increase in new cases of skin cancer among younger people who frequently use tanning beds.
Furthermore, a tan might look nice now, but you have to consider the long-term consequence of premature skin aging. “The end does not justify the means,” Waibel says. “A tan will fade in a few weeks, but the effects of photoaging of the skin are everlasting.”
Consider Self-Tanning Lotion Instead
“The sunless tan formulas have improved so much over the years,” Sherber says. “So streaking and unnatural orange tones should be a thing of the past.”
Self-tanningcreamsare a healthier alternative to tanning beds and natural sun exposure. “Since no UV rays are involved in developing your tan, self-tanners provide a safe alternative to indoor or outdoor tanning,” Sherber says. “The active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), reacts with the skin’s dead skin cell layer to give a tan tint that lasts for several days.”
Sherber suggests exfoliating before you put on a self-tanner, washing your hands after you apply it, and make sure that the product has dried before you get dressed.
According to Sherber, self-tanners do not protect the skin from sun damage, and they are not a replacement for daily sunscreen use.
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How to Protect Your Skin in the Sun
Naiara Braghiroli, MD, PhD, a dermatologist with Baptist Health’sMiami Cancer Institute, offers a few practical tips to protect your skin from daily sun damage.
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Sunscreen Basics
Experts say there are three key things to keep in mind when purchasing a daily sunscreen.
“If you are spending time at the beach, pool, or lake, you are at double risk of exposure to UV rays as you not only face direct sunlight but also light reflecting off the water. As such, you are more predisposed for sunburn,” Braghiroli says. “If you are using a water-resistant sunscreen, reapply every 40 minutes. If using a very water-resistant sunscreen, reapply every 80 minutes.”
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Types of Sunscreen
There are two types of sunscreens. The one that you choose will depend on your needs and preferences.
A chemical-based sunscreen is far better than no sunscreen at all, but those who are concerned about the potential effects of chemical sunscreens on the environment or their health may prefer a mineral sunscreen.
How to Use Sunscreen
There are a few components to proper sunscreen use:
The Right Way to Put On Sunscreen
Start Safe Sun Practices Young
Over 80% of the damage that leads to skin cancer occurs before the age of 18, which is why sun safety habits need to start in childhood.
“One’s primary risk factor for skin cancer is the amount of sun exposure they have before the age of 18, so whatever sun exposure one receives during their childhood impacts their life-long risk,“ Denver, Colorado-based dermatologistGregory Papadeas, DO, FAAD, tells Verywell. “If a child can graduate from high school without ever getting a sunburn, the risk of them ever developing a skin cancer is much lower.”
Sun Protection for Babies and KidsThe American Academy of Dermatologyand theAmerican Academy of Pediatricsdo not recommend sunscreen use for infants under the age of 6 months.Caregivers should minimize sun exposure. When outside, babies and toddlers need to be kept as shaded as possible with hats, sunglasses, long sleeves, and pants.Young children cannot verbalize that they are getting too hot and may not show signs of being overheated. To make sure everyone stays say, keep your time in the sun short and offer children water frequently.
Sun Protection for Babies and Kids
The American Academy of Dermatologyand theAmerican Academy of Pediatricsdo not recommend sunscreen use for infants under the age of 6 months.Caregivers should minimize sun exposure. When outside, babies and toddlers need to be kept as shaded as possible with hats, sunglasses, long sleeves, and pants.Young children cannot verbalize that they are getting too hot and may not show signs of being overheated. To make sure everyone stays say, keep your time in the sun short and offer children water frequently.
The American Academy of Dermatologyand theAmerican Academy of Pediatricsdo not recommend sunscreen use for infants under the age of 6 months.
Caregivers should minimize sun exposure. When outside, babies and toddlers need to be kept as shaded as possible with hats, sunglasses, long sleeves, and pants.
Young children cannot verbalize that they are getting too hot and may not show signs of being overheated. To make sure everyone stays say, keep your time in the sun short and offer children water frequently.
What If I Have Darker Skin?
Early skin cancer can be harder to spot on darker skin. Braghiroli advises regular skin exams and routine visits to a dermatologist to identify areas of concern. “Early detection is key in curing melanoma, so if you find an unusual spot, mole, or skin area, it’s critical to see your dermatologist right away.”
Braghiroli points out that “seventy-five percent of skin cancers diagnosed in people of color are in areas that are not exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands, nail beds, soles of the feet, inside the mouth and/or the genitalia area.”
Given their location, these skin cancers are less likely to be diagnosed early and come with a higher mortality rate for people of color. “The estimated five-year melanoma survival rate for Black individuals is 67% versus 92% for whites,” Braghiroli says.
But that doesn’t mean sunscreen use doesn’t matter for people with darker skin tones. Braghiroli says it’s still essential.
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“In the past, mineral sunscreens would appear as a white coating, which could create a chalky appearance on people of color. But sunscreen formulations have evolved and that the technology is far superior, with some mineral sunscreens even offering a tinted color to match various skin tones,” says Braghiroli. “Sunscreen use can also protect people of color against hyperpigmentation."
Is Sun Exposure Important to Get Enough Vitamin D?
Sun exposure does play a role in the production of vitamin D, but dermatologists say that there are ways to get yourvitamin Dwithout damaging your skin.
“While the sun is a source of vitamin D, the amount of vitamin D a person creates from sun exposure is variable,” Sherber says. “Since sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends getting adequate vitamin D through dietary sources, including foods naturally rich in vitamin D, foods and beverages fortified with vitamin D, or vitamin D supplements.”
Some foods that provide a generous amount of vitamin D include fatty fish, egg yolks, red meat, liver, and mushrooms. Foods such as breakfast cereals and milk are fortified with additional vitamin D.
“The National Academy of Medicine recommends 600 IU as the Recommended Dietary Allowance for people 1-70 years of age, 400 IU for infants, and 800 IU for those over 70,”Sherber says. “While vitamin D is an essential vitamin, having an excess of vitamin D can cause problems such as increasing the risk of kidney stones and bone fractures, so having levels checked can be beneficial.”
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When to See a Dermatologist
“No one is as well-trained as adermatologistto evaluate your skin,” Papadeas says. He recommends that all individuals perform a monthly skin self-check, noting any lesions that are unusual or have changed in any way. Individuals with no additional risk factors for skin cancer should see a dermatologist once a year for a head-to-toe skin examination.
“Each individual with a first-degree relative diagnosed with melanoma has a 50% greater chance of developing melanoma in the future than those without a family history of the disease, so knowing your family history is very important,” Braghiroli says. “Additional risk factors to be mindful of are having a lot of moles, scars from previous trauma, and chronic/open wounds. Those who have HPV, an autoimmune disease, or who are immunosuppressed are also at greater risk.” If you have any of these additional risk factors, you may need to see a dermatologist more frequently.
The ABCDEs of Melanoma
If you have spots on your body that meet certain criteria, you should see a dermatologist.Keep an eye on any lesions and monitor the ABCDE characteristics.
What This Means For YouSafe sun practices, especially if you start young, can help prevent skin damage, lower your chances of developing skin cancer, and avoid premature skin aging.
What This Means For You
Safe sun practices, especially if you start young, can help prevent skin damage, lower your chances of developing skin cancer, and avoid premature skin aging.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Indoor tanning.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.Cleveland Clinic.Skin cancer & sun exposure.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.Institute of Medicine.Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D: report brief.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Indoor tanning.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.Cleveland Clinic.Skin cancer & sun exposure.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.Institute of Medicine.Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D: report brief.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Indoor tanning.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.Cleveland Clinic.Skin cancer & sun exposure.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.Institute of Medicine.Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D: report brief.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.
Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Indoor tanning.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.
Cleveland Clinic.Skin cancer & sun exposure.
National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.
Institute of Medicine.Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D: report brief.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
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