Other risk factors for skin cancer include having a family history of skin cancer, a history of sunburns or other longterm skin problems, a weakened immune system, or older age. Skin cancer prevention follow these tips to protect your skin from the damaging effects of sun exposure and reduce your risk of skin cancer. The paragraphs below provide 11 great diet and nutrition related tips that can help reduce your risk of skin cancer. If you want to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, experts say the first step is to decrease your exposure to ultraviolet uv light by avoiding direct sunlight and tanning beds. The prevention of common skin cancers and precancers is possible by taking an inexpensive, widely available, oral pill twice daily. Many people feel shocked and upset when told they have skin cancer. This 16page booklet discusses nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers, skin cancer warning signs, skin cancer risk factors, skin cancer treatments, sun safety tips, and skin selfexamination.
Skin cancer booklet health edco sun safety products. Surgeon general call to action to prevent skin cancer. Government, business, health, education, community, nonprofit, and faith. Thats why the american cancer society and the national council on skin cancer prevention have designated the friday before memorial day as dont fry day. Treatment will be more effective if a skin cancer is detected early. Evidencebased guideline on prevention of skin cancer. It should have a sun protection factor spf of at least 30 and should be broadspectrum, meaning it guards against uva. Cdc works with partners to reduce illness and death caused by skin cancer. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both uva and uvb rays. Follow these tips to protect your skin from the suns damaging ultraviolet rays and reduce your risk of skin cancer. This brochure has vital information for you on the three most common forms of skin cancer basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, including what they look like, what their dangers are and the many ways to treat them. The surgeon generals call to action to prevent skin cancer calls on partners in prevention from various sectors across the nation to address skin cancer as a major public health problem. Cooler temperatures remind us that dog days of summer are over, but that doesnt mean you should skip wearing sunscreen until spring break arrives.
If you arent sure which type of skin cancer you have, ask your doctor so you can get the right information. Government, business, health, education, community, nonprofit, and faithbased sectors are all essential partners in this effort. They are available online as web pages, adobe acrobat pdf documents. The following resources have excellent information about risk factors, as well as how to do a self examination and how to determine if a mole should be seen by a doctor. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the united states. We provide practical information to help you understand what you are going through, including answers to common questions, tips, checklists and where to go for support. The good news is that it is the most treatable form of cancer. Separate pdq summaries on skin cancer screening, skin cancer treatment, genetics of skin cancer, and levels of evidence for cancer screening and prevention studies are also available individuals whose skin freckles, tans poorly, or burns easily after sun exposure are particularly susceptible to developing skin cancer. Below are five easytofollow ways to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure yearround and reduce your risk of skin cancer.
This booklet outlines the relationship between exposure to uv radiation and. Understanding skin cancer cancer council australia. We hope this booklet will help you, your family and. Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Information on skin cancer would not be complete without an appeal to you to consider the following thoughts on prevention of skin cancer i have attempted to point out how important it is to diagnose skin cancer early to prevent, particularly in the case of squamous cell carcinoma, the general spread of the cancer throughout the body. Skin cancer, of various types, is the most common cancer in the uk and rates are rising dramatically. The importance of taking immunosuppressants far outweighs the potential risk of skin cancer, but transplant patients should see a skin specialist every year for a skin check. Anyone can get skin cancer raises awareness that people with darker skin can develop skin cancer. Ultraviolet uv radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer.
About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with. The skin has several layers, but the two main layers are the epidermis upper or outer layer and the dermis lower or inner layer. The most important way to prevent skin cancer is to protect your skin from the harmful. One out of every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer, which means awareness and prevention are essential. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin d. And if skin cancer isnt diagnosed early, it can be serious, disfiguring, even lifethreatening. Learn about skin cancer symptoms, treatments, and risk factors, as well as how to prevent it. Skin cancer awareness month the skin cancer foundation. Squamous cell carcinoma scc the second most common type, spreads fast and looks like a red bump or scaly patch that heals and recurs malignant melanoma the deadliest form of skin cancer, often starts in a mole or as a dark spot on the. Highlights risk factors, prevention methods, and clues for early detection.
It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck. Useful skin cancer prevention and early detection downloads skcin. Tips for preventing skin cancer new york city manhattan ny. The disease is being seen on a daily basis not only by dermatologists and plastic surgeons but. The sun sustains life and feels good, but it can be your skins worst enemy. Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is now the most common form of cancer for young adults 2529 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 1529 years old. Prevent skin cancer by avoiding sun exposure and other tips. In an ideal world, everyone would know and live by the following skin cancer prevention tips and facts, according to madeleine and other prevention advocates, including the american cancer society and the skin cancer foundation use sunscreen the right way. Top skin cancer prevention tips, activities and early detection according to numerous studies, by practicing sun protection, people can lower the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer affects more people worldwide than all other types of cancer combined. Even though i knew i had almost every risk factor for skin cancer, i fell into the far too common trap of thinking that skin cancer wouldnt happen to me, says ginny. Skin cancer is chiefly lifestyle disease, and is also highly preventable. Cdc recommends easy options for protection from uv radiation.
Skin cancer prevention tips, activities and early detection. It is currently estimated that one in every five people in the u. Since most skin cancers are directly related to ultraviolet uv exposure, so the best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect your skin from uv rays. Since many cases of skin cancer are caused by exposure to uv light or sun, avoiding sun exposure is key to prevention. Preventing skin cancer by protecting yourself completely requires a comprehensive approach. The information below and elsewhere on this website is not intended or implied to be a. If you must be outside, try to avoid the midday sun, stay in the shade when possible and wear sunscreen, long sleeves and a wide hat for added protection. Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers as. Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the suns rays are strongest between 10 a. Avoid getting a sunburn see vitamin d advice below. Nine things to know to reduce your skin cancer risk right now. If you have skin cancer, it is important to know which type you have because it affects your treatment options and your outlook prognosis. Most cases of skin cancer are caused by exposure to ultraviolet uv rays.
Each booklet, or information fact sheet, addresses a different aspect of cancer. This leaflet has been written to help you understand how to reduce the risk of developing a skin. Researches also indicate that sun protection can reduce the development of skin cancer and the likelihood of recurrence. Reduce your consumption of saturated fat and red meat, which may increase the risk of colon cancer and a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. Prevent skin cancer american academy of dermatology. Observational and analytic epidemiologic studies have. Order free national cancer institute publications nci.
The suns uv rays penetrate the skin, causing damage and increasing the risk of skin cancer. Before diving into the prevention side of melanoma, or skin cancer, here are some facts you should know. With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the united states each year, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the united states. However, something far easier than skin cancer treatment, is skin cancer prevention. Sun safety and skin cancer booklet skcin have produced a pocket sized a6 booklet that contains comprehensive. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types. Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. Tanning beds and sun lamps are also common sources of uv radiation. Oral nicotinamide prevents common skin cancers in high. Skin cancer precautions even for indooronly pets like with people, pets can suffer from skin cancer and some are at. The pillthe vitamin b 3 supplement called nicotinamidecut the rate of new squamouscell and basalcell skin cancers by 23% compared with placebo after 1 year among patients at high risk for skin cancer.
The 10 commandments of cancer prevention harvard health. Constitutional risk factors phenotypical or genotypical of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the united states. Skin cancer skin cancer facts common skin cancer types. A number of our booklets are now available as ebooks, making them easy to download and view on. What we do know is that exposure to ultraviolet uv light is the major environmental contributor to melanoma. This brochure is designed to help public health program planners, community advocates, educators, and policymakers find proven intervention strategies.
748 1500 762 1261 671 101 1193 913 124 1007 1493 1471 1303 1074 1585 737 1458 342 1098 115 1541 1251 1063 955 536 31 581 347 1655 872 152 1603 1662 87 924 523 1241 773 1335 218 352 375 1277 831