Dermatology

Skin Cancer Prevention: Protective Measures to Take

admin Aug 23, 2024

In a country like India, where summer seems to drag on forever, monsoon and winter are exciting seasons. During the summer season, the air becomes warmer, the sun gets brighter, as well as outdoor activities happen too many times. Naturally, a person's skin's exposure to the sun increases during hot weather, which results in a greater likelihood of skin damage, comprising the development of skin cancer. The good news? Most skin cancers are preventable.

What is skin cancer?

Specifically, skin cancer refers to the abnormal growth of skin cells, which is typically the result of overexposure to the sun and deleterious ultraviolet (UV) rays. Although the skin that's most exposed accounts for many cases, well-covered portions of the body, like a person's palms or genital area, can also be impacted. All pigmentations—dark and light—are subject to skin cancer.

Skin cancer prevention needs a comprehensive approach to protecting oneself against deleterious ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

That's because UV rays from the sun isn't just dangerous; it's also sneaky. Not only can it cause premature aging as well as skin cancer, but it also reaches people even when they're trying to avoid it – penetrating clouds and glass and bouncing off of snow, water, and sand. Moreover, sun damage gathers over the years, from prolonged outdoor exposure to simple activities such as walking the dog, going from car to the office, and bringing in the mail.

Let us learn about ways to prevent skin cancer:

Slip - Clothing as sun protection

Clothing is a physical barrier between a person's skin and UV radiation.

When choosing clothes to shield a person's skin from UV radiation, consider the clothing's fabric, color, and UPF rating.

Dark colors (like navy, black and dark red) absorb UV rays, and also prevent them from reaching the skin compared to white and light colors. However, the closeness of the weave is still more important than the color of the fabric.

Clothing may be labeled with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). Any fabric rated above UPF15 provides good protection against UV radiation.

Slop - Sunscreen

Sunscreen decreases the amount of UV radiation reaching a person’s skin by offering a barrier to absorb or filter UV rays away from a person’s skin, preventing damage to the cells below.

The Cancer Council recommends using sunscreen that is SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved.

Sunscreen with nanoparticles has become very famous in recent years as the smaller particles make the sunscreen less visible on the skin and more accessible to apply and offer superb protection from UV radiation.

Slap–Sun smart hats

A sun smart hat refers to a simple, effective way to protect a person’s face, head, neck and ears from UV radiation.

When choosing a sun smart hat, individual should make sure that hat:

Adequately shades the whole face.
It is made of a close weave fabric that does not permit light to get through.
Has a dark lining to decrease the amount of UV radiation being reflected onto the face and eyes.
Does not obscure vision or pose a safety concern—Check out for children's hats with cords that pull in at the crown or are attached with safety snaps that come easily away if the cord gets caught.
Fits correctly so it doesn't slide down or blow off.

Seek – Shade

Well-designed and correctly positioned shade provides protection from UV radiation where needed, at the right time of day and the right time of year.

Well-designed shade ensures that:

The outdoor space is comfortable to use in all seasons.
A barrier protects users from direct and indirect sources of UV radiation.
The shade is attractive, practical, and environmentally friendly.

Slide – Protecting eyes from the sun

Experts recommend wearing close-fitting wraparound sunglasses to provide the best protection for your eyes from UV radiation.

Few sunglasses are marked with an Eye Protection Factor (EPF). An EPF of 9 or 10 offers excellent protection, blocking almost all UV radiation.

Wraparound, close-fitting, and large lenses help reduce reflected UV radiation and glare that can pass around the edge of sunglasses.

Protecting children from the sun

Skin damage from UV rays during childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life. To prevent skin cancer, keep kids from excessive sun exposure between the interval of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when UV radiation is strongest. Parents should apply a generous amount of sunscreen often to children aged six months and older.

Keep babies younger than six months out of exposure to direct sunlight. Dress their baby in hats as well as lightweight attires that covers most of the skin portion. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) approves utilizing sunscreen on babies younger than six months if clothing and shade don't offer sufficient cover. Parents should apply a small amount of sunscreen. Utilize it only on baby's exposed areas, like the face and back of the hands.

In a nutshell, skin can be protected from the harmful effects of UV radiation by: staying in the shade, wearing clothing that covers a person's arms as well as legs, wearing a hat with a wide brim to shade a person's face, head, ears, as well as neck, wearing sunglasses that wrap around and obstruct both UVA and UVB rays, and utilizing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.