{"id":161918,"date":"2020-06-16T15:21:57","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T19:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?post_type=school-college-post&p=161918"},"modified":"2023-06-27T12:03:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T16:03:28","slug":"sun-protection-skin-care-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2020\/06\/sun-protection-skin-care-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Sun Protection = Skin Care Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the sun and fun of summer begin, most people think of sun protection only when they spend a day at the lake, beach, or pool. However, sun exposure adds up day after day all year long.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also the time of year we think more about skin cancer which is by far the most common type of cancer in the United States and worldwide.\u00a01 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 and more than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.<\/p>\n

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Philip Kerr MD is an associate professor of dermatology and dermatopathology, and the Director of the Melanoma Clinic at UConn Health. Kristin Wallace\/UConn Health photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe see people at our practice at UConn having sunburns during June more often than we do in July or August,\u201d said Dr. Philip Kerr<\/a>, Chair of Dermatology,\u00a0UConn Health<\/a>. He said the June sun is the strongest because the days are long and the sun is directly over us.<\/p>\n

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most of this exposure comes from the sun, but some can come from man-made sources, such as indoor tanning beds and sun lamps. People who get a lot of exposure to UV rays are at greater risk for skin cancer.<\/p>\n

The main types of UV rays that can affect your skin include UVA rays and UVB rays. UVB rays have more energy and are a more potent cause of at least some skin cancers,\u00a0but both UVA and UVB rays can damage skin and cause skin cancer. There are\u00a0no<\/em>\u00a0safe UV rays.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAny color to the skin including a tan is the skin\u2019s way of protecting itself from UV radiation by producing more melanin,\u201d says\u00a0<\/span>Dr. Hao Feng<\/a>, a Mohs micrographic surgeon and the Director of Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology at UConn Health.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hao Feng, MD, MHS, FAAD is a dermatologist and MOHS Surgeon at UConn Health on June 27, 2019. (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunburn accelerates skin aging and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.<\/p>\n

Basal cell carcinoma\u00a0is the most common form of cancer worldwide. In the United States, it accounts for approximately 80 percent of all skin cancers. The majority of basal cell carcinomas are easily and successfully treated with current therapies.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Feng, basal cell carcinomas are most commonly found on the face, neck, ear, trunk, or other parts of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun. The cure rate for this type of cancer is very high at 99 percent when treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. However, because basal cell carcinomas often occur on the face, they can cause serious cosmetic damage and functional difficulties if not diagnosed and treated early.<\/p>\n

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer in the United States. It accounts for about 15 percent of all skin cancers. This type of cancer is also found around the face, the nose, top of ears, and the scalp are common places for skin cancer to develop due to exposure to the sun. While squamous cell carcinoma also has a high cure rate of 92-97 percent for tumors treated for the first time depending on the treatment modality, it generally does have a higher recurrence rate compared to basal cell carcinoma.<\/p>\n

Melanoma is among the most serious forms of skin cancer. Most melanoma develops in the skin. The face, scalp, neck, arms, legs, chest, belly, and back are common areas where melanoma develops. Cutaneous melanoma can also start on the bed of a fingernail or toenail.<\/p>\n

Kerr said he sees what sun damage and skin cancer does to people daily. Fair-skinned people with blue eyes, who freckly easily, are most at risk, but Kerr said they do see some cases in dark skin.<\/p>\n

People who spend a lot of time in the sun or have a history of using tanning beds are at the highest risk for melanoma. But some people are at greater risk than others. The risk for melanoma also increases with age. When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for early stage melanoma is 99 percent, it is when it is found late and has spread to other parts of the body that it can cause death.<\/p>\n

\u201cSkin cancer is common and prevention is the key to not only preventing skin cancer but skin health in general to prevent healthy aging,\u201d says Feng.<\/p>\n

Kerr says sunscreen is the first line of defense against skin cancer and said it needs to be done properly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a person\u2019s going to be out for more than two hours, then we recommend to reapply, and also we recommend to reapply if someone has been in a swimming pool or the ocean for more than five or 10 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

He recommends a 30 SPF for those going to be out for under two hours and 50 if longer or near water.\u00a0 \u201cThe reason is that water reflects the ultraviolet up towards us,\u201d he explained. That means getting sun from overhead and below from the water\u2019s reflection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe frequency and amount of application is an important part of using sunscreen,\u201d says Feng. Not applying enough or frequently enough is a common mistake when using sunscreen.<\/p>\n