Daily News
By Brian Hostetler, PharmD Candidate, Class of 2019
It’s that time of year again in Cincinnati! After a long winter, we seemed to have gone from the cold weather and skipped straight to summer. As it gets warmer outside, we spend more time outdoors and do all sorts of activities in the sun. While it is great to get out and enjoy yourself, it is important to remember to keep your skin protected! We all know that being outdoors in the sun for too long can cause painful sunburns, but prolonged exposure from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to a type of skin cancer called melanoma. It’s also important to note that other forms of UV radiation, like indoor tanning, are bad for your skin and can increase the risk of you getting cancer. Melanoma can be deadly if it’s not detected right away, and can occur anywhere on the body. However, it is most common on the head, neck, torso, upper back, and legs. What does a melanoma look like? It’s typically a spot on the skin which can be mistaken for a mole, but there are some important differences. Using the pneumonic ABCDE, here are some important things to look out for:
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A |
Asymmetry - while most moles are symmetrical, melanomas tend to be asymmetrical and may have different looking halves of the spot |
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B |
Border - the edges of the melanoma are usually uneven |
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C |
Color – most moles are a single color, but melanomas can have different colors within the same spot, or have unusual coloring like blue, red, and white |
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D |
Diameter – look out for any spots that are larger than 6 mm, or about the size of a pencil eraser; spots this size are larger could be a melanoma |
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E |
Evolving – take notice if the spot is changing size, shape, or color |
While it is important to be wary of unusual spots on your skin, and to get your skin checked annually by a dermatologist, you can still have fun out in the sun. Make sure to wear sunscreen with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30. The SPF is a number to show how much protection the sunscreen offers, with higher numbers offering greater sun protection (sunscreens typically have SPF values that range from 2-100). It should be applied 15 minutes before going out in the sun, and be applied every 2 hours while out in the sun. However, if you go swimming, or start sweating a lot, more should be applied immediately after. Stay out of direct sunlight or seek shade during the times of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the most intense, and make sure to wear a hat or clothing on unprotected areas of the skin. Check out https://melanomaknowmore.com/ for more information about melanoma, and for information about the monthly free skin cancer screening clinics around Cincinnati. Have fun out in the sunshine this summer, stay hydrated, and protect your skin!
Sources
1. Melanoma Know More [Internet]. [accessed 2018 May 17]. Available from: https://melanomaknowmore.com/.