Transcript Protect the Skin You're In!

Protect the Skin You’re in!
Looking at skin cancer, ways to prevent cancer, and
spotting it!
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Skin
• Comes in many colors and
is exposed to all of the
elements in the world!
•Just like house paint
– Protects against infections
•shield to outside invaders
– Sends important signals to
your brain
•pain receptors
– Helps us heal
•that’s what scabs do
Did You Know?
• Skin cancer is the most
common form of cancer in
the United States.
• There are three major types
of skin cancer:
– Basal cell carcinoma
– Squamous cell carcinomas
– Malignant melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinomas
• Are the most common
• Usually begin on areas exposed to the sun, such as:
– the head and
– neck
• Are being seen in younger people because they are
spending more time in the sun with their skin exposed.
Basal Cell Carcinomas Don’t All
Look the Same
• They can appear as a:
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Red patch
Shiny pearly or translucent pink, red, or white bump
Crusty, open sore that will not heal or
Scar-like area
• There may be a rolled border with an indented
center.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Grows Slowly.
• It is highly unusual for a basal cell cancer to
spread to distant parts of the body.
• If not treated, it grows into nearby areas and
invades bone or other tissues beneath the skin.
• After treatment, it can come back in the same
place.
• New basal cell cancers can start elsewhere on the
skin.
• Often, people who have one basal cell cancer will
develop a new skin cancer within the next 5 years.
So Where Would You Find a
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Your Body?
Correct!
• Usually on areas exposed to the sun, such as
your head and neck!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Second most common type of skin
cancer found in fair-skinned people.
• It usually appears on places of the body
such as:
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face
ear
neck
lips, and
backs of the hands.
• It can also begin within scars or skin
ulcers elsewhere on the body. Less
often, it forms in the skin of the genital
area.
Squamous Cell Carcinomas
• More likely to invade tissues beneath the skin, and
slightly more likely to spread to lymph nodes or distant
parts of the body than are basal cell carcinomas.
• Can take the form of a persistent scaly red patch that
sometimes crusts or bleeds; an open sore that does not
heal; or a raised or wart-like growth that may bleed.
So, do squamous cell carcinomas like to
spread to different parts of the body?
YES! This cancer is more likely to invade tissues
beneath the skin, and slightly more likely to spread to
lymph nodes or distant parts of the body than are basal
cell carcinomas.
Melanoma Tumors
• Are often brown or black.
• Most often appear on the trunk of
fair-skinned men and on the lower
legs of fair-skinned women, but it
can appear other places as well.
– While having dark skin lowers the
risk of melanoma, it does not mean
that a person with dark skin will
never develop melanoma.
Melanoma Tumors
• Account for about 4% of skin cancer cases but
cause about 79% of skin cancer deaths.
• The number of new cases of melanoma in the
United States is on the rise.
– The American Cancer Society estimates that in
2005, there will be 59,580 new cases of melanoma
in this country.
– About 7,770 people will die of this disease.
Melanoma
• Is almost always curable in its early stages.
– But it is also likely to spread to other parts of the
body.
– Melanoma is much less common than basal cell
and squamous cell skin cancers, but it is far more
serious!
Melanoma Tumors
• Where would you most likely find melanoma
tumors in this man and woman?
Men are more likely to
get melanoma on their
trunk.
Women are more likely
to get melanoma on their
lower legs, but it can
appear other places as
well in either gender.
The A-B-C-D’s of
Preventing Skin Cancer.
A is for “Avoidance”
• Limit direct sun exposure from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• If you are unsure about the sun’s
intensity, take the shadow test:
– If your shadow is shorter than you, the
sun’s rays are the strongest.
– Plan activities out of the sun during
these times.
– If you must be outdoors, protect your
skin.
A is for “Avoidance”
Avoid Tanning Beds and Sunlamps
• Health experts advise avoiding sunlamps and
tanning beds.
– Tanning lamps give out UVA and frequently UVB
as well.
– Both UVA and UVB can cause serious skin
damage, and both contribute to skin cancer growth.
A is for “Avoidance”–
Limit direct sun exposure
• UV rays can pass through water.
– Don’t assume you’re safe if you’re in the water
because you’re feeling cool.
– Be especially careful on the beach and in the
snow because sand and snow reflect sunlight,
increasing the amount of UV radiation you
receive.
• If you plan to be outdoors, check the UV
Index for your area.
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Local newspaper
TV
Radio news broadcasts
National Weather Service Climate Prediction
Center’s home page
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
B is for “Bronzers”
• Use bronzing lotions to produce a tanned look
without having to bake in the sun!
• Bronzers give you a healthier way to achieve the
look without the risk.
C is for “Coverage”
Use Sunscreen
– Read the label
•Choose sunscreen products labeled “broad-spectrum,”
which protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
•Some cosmetics, such as lipsticks and foundations, also
are considered sunscreen products if they contain
sunscreen.
•Choose a sunscreen with at least 15 SPF or higher.
– The SPF number represents the level of sunburn protection
provided by the sunscreen – a higher number means more
protection.
C is for “Coverage”
• When using an SPF 15, apply it
correctly.
– Remember that wearing sunscreen does not
give you total protection.
• You get the equivalent of 1 minute of burning UV
rays for each 15 minutes you spend in the sun.
• So, 8 hours in the sun wearing SPF 15 sunscreen
is the same as spending 32 minutes unprotected.
For high-glare situations, a higher SPF sunscreen
or zinc oxide may be used on your nose and lips.
C is for “Coverage”
• Products labeled “waterproof”
provide protection for at least 80
minutes, even when swimming or
sweating.
• Products that are “water resistant”
may provide protection for only
40 minutes.
• Most sunscreen products expire
within 2 to 3 years, but you should
check the expiration date on the
container to be sure it is still fully
effective.
C is for “Coverage”
• Be sure to apply the sunscreen properly.
– Always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
– Most recommend applying sunscreen generously to dry
skin 20 to 30 minutes before going outside so the chemicals
have time to absorb into your skin.
– Pay particular attention to your:
• face
• ears
• hands,
• arms,
• and generously coat the skin that is not covered by clothing.
– If you’re wearing insect repellent or makeup, sunscreen
should be applied before those products.
C is for “Coverage”
• Be generous.
– About 1 ounce of sunscreen (a “palmful”) should
be used to cover the arms, legs, neck, and face of
the average adult.
• For best results, reapply at least every 2 hours
and even more often if you are swimming or
sweating.
• Remember that sunscreen usually rubs off
when you towel yourself dry.
C is for “Coverage”
Wear sunglasses
that block UV rays
• Research has shown that long hours in the sun without
eye protection increases the chances of developing eye
disease.
• The ideal sunglasses:
– Do not have to be expensive, but they should block 99 100% of UVA and UVB radiation.
– Some labels may say, “UV absorption up to 400 nm.” This
is the same as 100% UV absorption.
– Also, labels that say “special purpose” or “Meets ANSI UV
Requirements” mean the glasses block at least 99% of UV
rays.
– Those labeled “cosmetic” block about 70% of the UV rays.
It there is no label, don’t buy the sunglasses.
C is for “Coverage”
Wear sunglasses that block UV rays
• Darker glasses are not necessarily better because the
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.
• Ideally, all types of eyewear, including prescription
glasses, contact lenses, and intraocular lens implants
used in cataract surgery, should absorb the entire UV
spectrum.
• Large-framed wraparound sunglasses protect your eyes
from all angles.
C is for “Coverage”
• Wear protective clothing such as:
– Long-sleeved shirts
– Long pants, or
– Long skirts
• Wear dark colors
– They provide more protection than light colors.
• Wear fabrics that are tightly woven.
– They protect better than loosely woven clothing.
– If you can see light through a fabric, UV rays can get
through, too.
• Wear dry fabric
– It is generally more protective than wet fabric.
C is for “Coverage” -- Wear a Hat
• A hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim all
around is ideal.
– It protects areas often exposed to the sun, such as:
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neck
ears
eyes
forehead
nose, and
scalp.
• A shade cap (which looks like a baseball cap
with about 7 inches of fabric draping down
the sides and back) is also good.
– Often sold in sports and outdoor supply stores.
• A baseball cap can protect the front and top
of the head but not the back of the neck or
the ears, where skin cancers commonly
develop.
Which Hats Are Best?
The Best Hats to Wear Were
D is for “Detective”
• Take extra precautions if you have:
– A family history of skin cancer,
– Numerous moles, or
– Very fair skin.
• Regularly examine your skin, and
keep an eye out for any changes.
– Look for
•Asymmetry
•Border
•Color
•Diameter
A is for “Asymmetry”
• Look for moles or lesions (sores) with irregular
shapes or ones in which one half differs from the
other half.
B is for “Border”
• If the border of the mole or lesion (sore) is
irregular, scalloped, or undefined (notched), it
should be checked out by your doctor.
C is for “Color”
• Watch for changes in the color, many colors, or
when the color varies from one area to another
within the mole or sore.
• Other warning signs are flat, flesh-colored, or
brown scar-like or crusty lesions on your chest or
back.
D is for “Diameter”
• Notice if the mole or lesion is larger than ¼ inch
across – about the size of an eraser on the end of a
pencil.
• If you notice any changes, see your doctor.
Keep Track of Skin Changes
• If you have any moles, it’s a good idea to take
digital photos of them so that you can see if they
have changed in appearance!
Remember
• Don’t wait for the area to
hurt or itch – skin cancer
seldom causes pain.
• Most skin cancers are
superficial, slow growing,
and highly treatable –
especially if found early.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Written by Courtney J. Schoessow, Extension Program Specialist –
Health Education, August 2005