Skin Cancer Myths Debunked

The weather may be sunny but the statistics are not. Every year, over one million new skin cancer cases are diagnosed in the United States alone. The most serious form, melanoma, will be seen in more than a 100,000 people this year and kill over 8,000, according to the American Melanoma Foundation.

Experts say the disease is increasing yearly mainly because of prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and the thinning of the ozone layer. The tragedy of it all is that skin cancer is preventable.

To avoid this problem, it pays to be sun wise. The first step in fighting skin cancer is to learn about the disease so you can protect yourself from the sun’s deadly rays. To make this easy for you, here are some skin cancer myths and facts you should be aware of:

Skin cancer is inherited. In some cases, it is but a healthy family history doesn’t mean you won’t get the disease later. It all depends how much time you spend under the sun. Excessive sun exposure causes precancerous changes in the skin and is a major factor in the development of malignant melanoma. High-risk groups include farmers, laborers, sailors, campers, athletes, those undergoing military training, beach lovers, and picnickers.

Only sunbathers should worry about skin cancer. False. No matter where you are or what you do, you can get skin cancer with constant sun exposure, especially if you go out between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest. In fact, you may get more UV exposure from going to the office and other daily routines than spending a weekend at the beach.

A good tan is a sign of health. False. A golden brown tan once meant that a person had plenty of leisure time, exercise and fresh air. But that’s hardly the case. Tanning is the skin’s response to sun damage. When the sun’s rays penetrate the skin, pigment-producing cells called melanocytes produce melanin to protect the skin and block UV light. However, this defense mechanism isn’t enough to protect the skin from burning. Over time, repeated tanning causes premature aging and increases your risk of skin cancer.

Only fair-skinned individuals will get skin cancer. False. While a fair complexion puts you at risk for skin cancer because it burns easily, those with dark or brown skin will also develop the disease with prolonged sun exposure.

You can’t get sunburned on a cloudy day. False. Up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate clouds, mist and fog. Fresh snow reflects back 85 percent while white sand can intensify it by 18 percent which is bad news for beach lovers. Staying in the water is not safe either since five percent of the sun’s rays are reflected back on you and sunlight can penetrate up to three feet under water! If you think all that will end by the time you drive home, think again. A concrete sidewalk reflects back 12 percent of the sun’s rays while an asphalt road reflects about 8 percent.

Vegetable or mineral oils will protect you from sunburn. False. Forget what your mom told you. These folk remedies don’t work. Baby oil and other home remedies may feel good but they won’t stop the sun’s UV rays from burning you. For complete sun protection, use a good sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) value.

To complement your sun protection regimen, use Lumnaderm, a whitening cream that eliminates freckles, unsightly age spots, sun spots, blemishes and hyperpigmentation. When used as directed, Lumnaderm will balance uneven skin tones and illuminate your skin. For more information, visit http://www.lumnaderm.com.