The Dangers of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer video

Melanoma Facts

• Melanoma rates are increasing faster than nearly all other cancers.

• Melanoma is a relatively easy disease to prevent.

• Most melanomas are easy to stop if caught soon enough-all it takes is a yearly skin exam.

• Melanoma kills one person every hour.• The New England states have a higher than

average rate of melanoma.

Parts of the skin

Epidermis-outer layer of the skin.Dermis-inner layer of the skinFat layer-deepest layer of the skin. Melanin-what gives skin color.Dermatologist-skin doctorMelanoma-skin cancer

Layers of the skin

The ABCDE’s of skin cancer• A- Asymmetry:• Normal moles or freckles are completely symmetrical. If you were to draw a line through

a normal spot, you would have two symmetrical halves. In cases of skin cancer, spots will not look the same on both sides.

• B- Border:• A mole or spot with blurry and/or jagged edges.• C- Color:• A mole that is more than one hue is suspicious and needs to be evaluated by a doctor.

Normal spots are usually one color. This can include lightening or darkening of the mole. • D- Diameter:• If it is larger than a pencil eraser (about 1/4 inch or 6mm), it needs to be examined by a

doctor. This is includes areas that do not have any other abnormalities (color, border, asymmetry).

• E- Elevation:• Elevation means the mole is raised above the surface and has an uneven surface. •

The ABCD’s of Skin Cancer

• A – Asymmetry

• B – Border

• C – Color

• D – Diameter

• The UV Index, developed by the National Weather Service and EPA, indicates the strength of solar UV radiation on a scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high). You can use the UV Index to take appropriate sun-protective behaviors and avoid overexposure to UV radiation.

• click here for uv index

Importance of Sunscreen

• SPF=Sun Protection Factor• UVA=causes premature aging, skin cancer, and

other skin damage.• UVB=causes sunburn rays• All sunscreens comes with a number. The

lighter the skin the higher the number which should be used to protect from UVA’s and UVB’s.

Sunscreen importance

• SPF values above 50 plus. Higher SPF products are not necessarily best. There’s a concern that high SPF products give people a false sense of security and encourage people to stay out in the sun for too long without reapplying sunscreen.

• Using sunscreen is only one part of smart skin protection. Limit your time outside between 10:00 and 4:00 pm. Wear a hat and protective clothing.

Dangers of tanning

• Melanoma Foundation of New England | Raising Awareness About Melanoma Throughout New England

Dangers of tanning

• Using tanning beds before the age of 35, increases one’s risk for melanoma by 75%.

• There is no such thing as a safe tan!• For teens and adults 15-29 skin cancer is the second

most common cancer.• Tanning increases the radiation of the sun by three

to six times.• Using a tanning bed for 20 minutes is equivalent to

spending one to three hours a day at the beach with no sun protection at all!