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Prevention of Melanoma
An important factor in beating melanoma and improving survival rates is increased public awareness. This alone could save lives by identifying melanoma at an early, curable stage.
There are ways to lower your risk of melanoma by not going outdoors in intense sunlight too long and by practicing sun safety, even on cloudy or cool days. Keep newborns out of the sun. It's particularly important to protect children from the sun. Children require special attention, especially since they tend to spend more time outdoors and can burn more easily. Seek shade especially in the middle of the day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when the UV light is strongest. Sand and snow reflect sunlight, increasing the amount of UV radiation you receive.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens should be used to protect against normal sun exposure. Sunscreens will not prevent melanoma; it just reduces the amount of UV light exposure. No sunscreen provides complete protection. Do not assume that sunscreen will protect you against the risk of skin cancer just because it is protecting you against sunburn. If you increase your sun exposure, you may increase your skin cancer risk whether or not you burn.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer. The SPF number indicates protection against UVB rays only. Sunscreen products labeled "broad-spectrum" protect against UVA and UVB radiation, but at this time there is no standard system for measuring protection from UVA rays. Products with an SPF of 15 or higher that also contain avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide are likely to be effective against UVB and most UVA rays. Use a higher SPF when you are at higher elevations. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside, spreading it evenly over all exposed parts of your body. Make sure your sunscreen covers your ears and your neck up to the hairline. Most sunscreens must be reapplied at least every two hours and even more often if you are swimming or sweating. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
Sun Protective Clothing
Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat (straw hats are not recommended unless they are tightly woven) to shade your ears and neck, a shirt with sleeves to cover your shoulders and arms, and long pants. The best fabric for skin protection has a tight weave to keep sunlight out. Dark colors generally provide the best protection. Dry fabric is generally more protective than wet fabric. If you can see light through a fabric, UV rays can get through too. A few companies in the United States now make sun-protective clothing. They tend to be more tightly woven, and some have special coatings to help absorb UV rays. Some sun-protective clothes have a label listing the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value -- the level of protection the garment provides from the sun's UV rays (on a scale from 15 to 50'). The higher the UPF, the higher the protection from UV rays. Newer products are now available to increase the UPF value of clothes you already own. Used like laundry detergents, they add a layer of UV protection to your clothes without changing the color or texture.
Sun Glasses
UV-blocking sunglasses can help protect your eyes from sun damage. The ideal sunglasses should block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. Check the label to be sure they do. Some labels may say, "UV absorption up to 400 nm (nanometers)." This is the same as 100% UV absorption. Also, labels that say "Meets ANSI (American National Standards Institute) UV Requirements" mean the glasses block at least 99% of UV rays. Those labeled "cosmetic" block about 70% of the UV rays. If there is no label, don't assume the sunglasses provide any protection. Darker glasses are not necessarily better because UV protection comes from an invisible chemical applied to the lenses, not from the color or darkness of the lenses. Look for an ANSI label.
Large-framed and wraparound sunglasses are more likely to protect your eyes from light coming in from different angles. Children need smaller versions of real, protective adult sunglasses -- not toy sunglasses.
Be Aware of Sun-sensitizing Medications
Some common prescription and over-the-counter drugs can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of any medications you take. If they increase your sensitivity to sunlight, be sure to take extra precautions.
Skin Checks
Examine your skin head-to-toe every month. People who examine their skin regularly are more likely to notice changes in the appearance of their moles and bring them to the attention of a doctor. Examine your skin for new skin growths or changes in existing moles, freckles, bumps and birthmarks. With the help of mirrors, check your face, neck, ears and scalp. Examine your chest and trunk, and the tops and undersides of your arms and hands. Examine both the front and back of your legs, and your feet, including the soles and the spaces between your toes. Identify abnormal moles and have them removed. When in doubt, have them checked out! Consult your doctor for a complete skin exam every year or more often if you're at high risk of developing melanoma.
Avoid Other Sources of UV Light
The use of tanning beds and sun lamps is hazardous because the UV radiation they deliver can damage your skin. In July 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France (this agency is part of the World Health Organization/WHO) moved tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category -- "carcinogenic to humans," . Their review concluded that the risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when use of tanning beds and sunlamps begins before 30 years of age.
Information on this page has been cited from the Melanoma Research Foundation (www.melanoma.org) - 2011
