Staying safe in the sun

Times Contributor

 

With warm weather and sunshine is just around the corner, many people are eager to start working on their tans without worrying about the consequences, like skin cancer, but there are things that can you can do to help prevent and be aware of the risks.

Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, but it is also the most deadly as it can spread to the rest of the body. However, melanoma is also one of the most treatable cancers if diagnosed quickly. It is also one of the most preventable, with 90 per cent of melanomas caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Annette Cyr, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Melanoma Network of Canada, states that it is a “tough disease.” The first step to preventing melanoma is knowing the warning signs.” she says.

“We always suggest [looking for] the A.B.C.D.E.’s of melanomas,” says Cyr. This stands for asymmetrical, border, colour, diameter and evolution. If any mole has one half that doesn’t match the other, an irregular or uneven border, an unusual colour (anywhere from pink to tan to blue), a diameter larger than 6 mm or the size of a pencil eraser, or it is changing, it is a warning sign.

“You don’t need to have all of those signs,” Cyr says, “but if you have any one of them, it’s a sign you should get checked out by a dermatologist.” 

Cyr recommends visiting a dermatologist rather than a doctor because melanoma can often be tricky to diagnose, and having a specialist with the right diagnostic tools is always beneficial.

UV damage is caused by the sun’s rays and tanning beds. Cyr cautions that if the top side of your arm doesn’t look like the underside, you have some UV damage. Lifetime risk of contracting melanoma is expected to have jumped 2,000 per cent from 1930 to 2015, which Cyr says is a warning sign for our society, particularly younger age groups. 

“There’s very few cancers that affect the young, but with melanoma it’s hitting that 15-30 age group like wildfire.”

Although being out in the sun is hard to resist on a summer day, Cyr offers a few tips to be safe. Avoid peak UV ray hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as much as possible and always wear as much protective clothing as possible to cover your skin. 

The clothing must not be see-through when held up to light. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 is also suggested, along with a broad rimmed hat of at least 2 inches and eye protection.

“You can also develop a form of melanoma in your eyes,” Cyr says. “Why do you think they hand you goggles [when you use a tanning bed]? To protect your eyes.” 

“It’s playing with fire,” Cyr says about tanning, and strongly suggests using either a spray tan or a lotion to gradually give you the sun-kissed colour you crave.

While Studio 86 Tanning salon owner, Vicki Penrod, agrees that there are risks associated with tanning, if you use common sense and moderation, especially with the help of trained professionals who can properly asses your skin’s needs, tanning can be safe and enjoyable.

“We care about the health of our client’s skin,” Penrod says, explaining that when a client comes in to her salon, they are asked questions about tanning history, family history to have their skin type assessed, and people who fall into skin type one (usually easily burnt, having fair skin, fair hair, light eyes, and/or freckles) are advised not to tan and often will not be allowed to tan at professional salons.

Penrod says that tanning beds are a great way to get a nice, even tan in a controlled environment, because the timing system on the bed is set by the computers which cannot be tampered with by customers.

Cyr points out that one session in a tanning bed increases the risk of contracting melanoma by 75 per cent, and Penrod clarifies that while it does increase by that percentage, the regular risk of any given person contracting melanoma is less than one percent. 

“75 per cent times less than 1 per cent is still less than 2 per cent,” Penrod says. “We’re very aware that the risk is there.”

If you’re still concerned about the health and safety of your skin, Penrod recommends getting a spray tan, available at Studio 86 Tanning, which produces the same colouring in a less permanent way that doesn’t involve exposure to UV. Penrod also recommends people interested in tanning be assessed and informed.

Even though people often think that melanoma is “just skin cancer” and that it is easily treatable and not an issue, Cyr disagrees and recommends to be as safe as possible.

“It’s life threatening. It’s very aggressive, and very unrelenting.”

For more information about skin cancer, tips for prevention and more, please visit www.melanomanetwork.ca.