It’s the middle of summer, and I bet you’ve heard endless warnings about sun exposure. Stay out of the sun for long periods of time. Avoid the sun during its peak hours. Wear plenty of sunscreen when you go out. The litany goes on and on. The Dangers of Irresponsible Sun Exposure Are Real…But They’re Also Misunderstood

It’s true that repeated sunburns contribute to skin cancer, but not the type of skin cancer you think. Sunburn can lead to the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. These are superficial cancers, which means they do not spread easily within your body. They are also easy to treat when you catch them early.

The type of cancer you think of when someone says skin cancer is melanoma. This is much more serious. Melanoma can spread throughout the body and be very deadly. But the link between sun exposure and melanoma is tenuous.

There is evidence that sunburn increases the risk of melanoma. But there’s also evidence that sun exposure without sunburn will actually reduce your risks.

For example, in one study, researchers found that people whose jobs require regular sun exposure are less likely to develop melanoma than those who don’t get sun exposure as part of their jobs. (one)

In another study, researchers found that people with melanoma had a better chance of survival if they spent more time in the sun. (two)

As you can see, the connection between sun exposure and melanoma is more complicated than the simple “The sun is bad” mantra you hear from most dermatologists.

The two best ways to protect yourself from melanoma are to understand what responsible sun exposure means and to know how to recognize melanoma in its early stages – early treatment is key to survival.

Know the skin you’re in

First of all, these are the keys to healthy sun exposure:

Get some sun exposure without sunscreen every week to boost your vitamin D levels.

Protect your skin from sunburn by covering it, seeking shade, or using a safe sunscreen with zinc oxide as an active ingredient.

Do not expose yourself to the sun for prolonged periods without taking measures to protect your skin.

Take 1 gram of vitamin C before bed if you get a burn; It will help your body prevent lasting skin damage.

Keep a therapeutic lotion handy in case of sunburn; my favorite is pure aloe vera jelly.

Next, here are the ABC’s of recognizing melanoma in its early stages.

A. Asymmetric Appearance: Pay attention to moles that do not have a symmetrical shape. This is a warning that something might be wrong.

B.Border Irregularity: Moles that have a rough or uneven border may be cancerous or in danger of becoming cancerous.

C. Color Variation: A healthy mole is usually a uniform color. Cancerous moles often have color variations within the mole, ranging from white to red to black to brown.

D.Diameter: Be concerned about any mole larger than a pencil eraser.

E. Elevation change: Most healthy moles will not undergo any changes, while a cancerous mole may change from a flat mole to a raised mole or may grow in size.

If you have two or more of these ABCs in a single mole, it’s time to make an appointment with your dermatologist. You can save your life.

in good health,

Dr Jay Brachfeld