Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How you can avoid skin cancer risk

Juliet K. Mavromatis, MD
Conditions
September 22, 2010
Share
Tweet
Share

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States.

There are three major types: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. Of those, basal cell and squamous cell are most common, accounting for about 3.5 million cases in the United States per year. Although, these types typically do not metastasize, they can be quite disfiguring, particularly after resection when they occur on the face. On a population level, melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, accounting for approximately eight thousand of the ten thousand deaths per year attributed to skin cancer.

This year the Environmental Working Group and Senator Charles Schumer brought to light concerns that have arisen about a form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate, found in 41 percent of sunscreens. This compound has been found to accelerate the development of skin cancer in laboratory animals. Schumer and Environmental Working Group were critical of the FDA for its slowness to address the existing studies and for its failure to regulate the safety and efficacy of sunscreens.

Although there is significant evidence that sun exposure is a strong risk factor for skin cancer, there is relatively scant evidence that sunscreen use mitigates this risk. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated a decreased incidence of actinic keratosis (a skin cancer precursor) and squamous cell cancer in sunscreen users. In these same trials, basal cell skin cancer was not similarly impacted. Moreover, no studies have confirmed a protective relationship with respect to melanoma incidence, and in fact several studies have shown increased risk in sunscreen users, perhaps because high SPF sunscreen users spend more time in the sun than those who user lower SPF’s.

Other factors reduce the effectiveness of sunscreen, including the failure of people to apply it appropriately, in adequate quantity, and to reapply after sweating, swimming or toweling off. A whole host of high SPF sunscreens are available, but labels touting high SPF content may be inaccurate. In addition, beyond SPF 15 the difference amongst sunscreens is minimal–SPF 15 filters 93% of UVB light, compared with SPF 30, which filters 98%. The SPF refers to the UVB blocking property. Sunscreen components that block UVA include zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and avobenzone and Mexoryl SX.

What can you do to avoid skin cancer risk?

• Avoid the sun between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.
• Use protective clothing when outdoors, including wide brimmed hats and shirts. Tighter weaves and darker colors do a better job, and UV protective fabric is also effective.
• Use sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater that blocks both UVA and UVB light, applied in adequate quantity, and reapplied frequently
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning equipment.
• Practice skin self-examination.

Juliet K. Mavromatis is an internal medicine physician who blogs at Dr Dialogue.

Submit a guest post and be heard.

Prev

Why the expansion of Alzheimer's may not be helpful

September 22, 2010 Kevin 4
…
Next

When patients are willing to share their stories

September 22, 2010 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Oncology/Hematology, Patients

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why the expansion of Alzheimer's may not be helpful
Next Post >
When patients are willing to share their stories

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Juliet K. Mavromatis, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Applying the new cholesterol guidelines to real life patients

    Juliet K. Mavromatis, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Drugs that are not FDA approved: Is there a time to prescribe them?

    Juliet K. Mavromatis, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    How to know whether alternative medicine is safe

    Juliet K. Mavromatis, MD

More in Conditions

  • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

    Kara Wada, MD
  • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

    Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH
  • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

    Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD
  • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

    Kristen Cline, BSN, RN
  • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

    George F. Smith, MD
  • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...