Dress your child in tightly woven, light-colored fabrics, and in a hat with a brim. Everyone, including infants, should wear sunglasses that block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
Skin Cancer Prevention
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to avoid excessive sun exposure. It is estimated that up to 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. Stick to the shade, wear tightly woven, light-colored clothing and apply sunscreen with a rating of at least SPF 30 to exposed skin 15 minutes before any outdoor activity. Remember to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.
Recently Answered
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1 AnswerA
Aurora Health Care answeredThe following are sunscreen guidelines for children:- Apply sunscreen to small areas of skin not protected by clothing.
- Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside.
- Apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed areas. Most people receive only 20% to 50% of a sunscreen's advertised protection because they use too little.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if the child plays in the water, even if the sunscreen is "waterproof."
- Choose sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
- Do not use sunscreens that are combined with insect repellent.
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Dr. Kelly Traver , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersEveryone should examine his or her own skin on a regular basis and be aware of any lesions on the skin. Any new or changing growth should be brought to the attention of a physician. In addition, anyone with increased risk factors should get a regular skin examination. This includes those who have had a previous skin cancer or significant sun exposure/sunburn history and those with a high mole count, atypical moles, or a family history of melanoma. If you can't remember anything else, remember this one key point: when it comes to taking care of your skin, the most important message is sunscreen, sunscreen, and sunscreen.
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredSee All 3 AnswersSpend a few minutes once a month to give yourself a thorough once-over to check for skin cancer. Do this in daylight lighting in front of a full length mirror. It is a good idea to do your breast self-exam on the same day. If you see any changes in your existing moles or if you spot new moles or non-healing growths, make an appointment with your dermatologist as soon as possible. Remember, although some people are at greater risk than others, everyone is at risk. A monthly self-check greatly increases your chances of finding any problems at an early stage when cure is the rule. Pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions can be safely and completely removed with microscopic surgery in your dermatologist’s office. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered
One person will die of skin cancer almost every hour, but is avoidable. Learn more about skin cancer in this video with Dr. Oz.
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LIVESTRONG answeredTo reduce the risk of cancer from ultraviolet (UV) rays, use sunscreen that blocks both UV-A and UV-B radiations with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15. Wear protective clothing and a hat when you are outdoors. UV damage occurs most during the mid-morning to late afternoon hours. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation. -
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RealAge answeredOnce you’ve had one skin cancer, your risk of getting another goes up. Don’t just cross your fingers.
- Start doing monthly skin self-exams. If you find any marks on your body that you’ve never noticed before or that look strange, see your dermatologist.
- Set up a series of skin-cancer appointments: If you had a basal or squamous cell, you need to be checked every six months; if you had a melanoma, you should be checked more frequently. Your doctor can tell you exactly how frequently based on your particular situation and the size of your melanoma (for more information, check the American Cancer Society’s site).
- Speak with your doctor about lowering your odds of a recurrence by starting on a prescription retinoid cream, either Retin-A or Tazorac. These vitamin-A derivatives work deep in the dermis to reverse sun damage, and may stop misguided basal cells and squamous cells from developing into cancer.
From The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Whole New You by Amy Wechsler.
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See All 7 AnswersSkin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. But melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous. About 65% to 90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps.
A few serious sunburns can increase your risk of skin cancer. To protect your skin from the sun, seek shade or go indoors during midday hours; wear long sleeves and long pants, a hat with a wide brim, and sunglasses; use sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher; and avoid indoor tanning.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredIn addition to fending off Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, asthma, and siesta urges, caffeine has now been found to cut your risk of basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.
Evidence of caffeine's cancer-fighting effects has been brewing for a while. No one exactly understands how caffeine does what it does but it definitely does something. In this case, research shows the risk of basal cell carcinoma is 20% lower in women who drink more than three cups of coffee a day, compared to women who rarely touch the stuff. Men get protection too, but only about 9%.
A "cup" of coffee is a small, 8-ounce mug that has about 100 mg of caffeine. If your notion of a cup of coffee is a medium container from a strong java shop like Starbucks, you're talking 16 ounces and 320 mg of caffeine.
Caffeine's skin-cancer protection exists beyond coffee. Applying caffeine directly to skin seems to work even better. While drinking coffee helps your body zap cancerous cells after sun damage occurs, applying caffeine to your skin may prevent the damage in the first place. Caffeine not only acts as a sunscreen, absorbing damaging UV light, it also works at a molecular level, inhibiting a protein that skin tumors need.
Caffeine is already being used in some moisturizers and body treatments. -
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RealAge answered
While you're helping your significant other get slathered up with sunscreen this weekend, throw in a little bonus gift -- a skin check.
You see, there's a benefit to being this close. Couples with tight-knit bonds are more likely to carefully check each other's skin for moles, bumps and other worrisome marks.
Skin self-exams can catch melanoma and other skin cancers early, when treatment has the best shot. And in a study of melanoma survivors, couples in close relationships were about three times more likely to do the skin-check deed. A partner can help with hard-to-see spots, too -- like your back and your scalp.