Sun Safety Information

Understanding Skin Cancer

Late detected melanomas are often deadly. A major contributing factor to melanoma is excessive sun exposure. Other skin cancers include Basal and Squamous cell cancer. Though these cancers are much less deadly than melanoma, they can be very disfiguring. All skin cancers are managed best when detected early.

What to Look For

Any skin cancer can appear suddenly as a new spot or develop slowly in or near an existing spot. In men, melanomas are most often found between the shoulders and hip, or the head and neck area. In women, melanomas most often develop on the lower legs as well as between the shoulders and hips. Any changes in a spot needs the immediare attention of a dermatoloist.

Facts About The Sun

• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
• Humans need minutes of sunlight to activated vitamin D.
• Sunburns or tanning cause premature skin aging, wrinkles, age spots, resulting in dry, leathery skin texture.
• You can get sunburn on a cloudy day! Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog.
• You can also burn your skin while swimming and skiing. Water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces reflect the sun’s rays.
• Tanning beds can emit UV rays 12 – 15 times stronger than the rays from the sun. Read more tanning bed facts here.

Important Skin Cancer Facts

• Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States.
• ONE MILLON new cases will be diagnosed on 2008.
• Skin cancer total direct cost associated with treatment was over $1 billion, on 2004.
• 1 in 5 Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime.
• 1 or more sunburns double your risk of developing skin cancer.
• Both Basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma have a better than 95 percent cure rate, if detected and treated early.
• Melanoma accounts for 75% of skin cancer deaths.
• One American dies of melanoma almost every hour.