Are You at Risk for Skin Cancer?

Anyone with skin is at risk for developing skin cancer, but certain characteristics put some people at higher risk.

My family is from Finland, so I went down this list and put a check mark by every single one.

• people with freckles
• people with fair skin tones
• people who burn easily
• people with light colored eyes, like green or blue
• people with naturally red or blonde hair
• people who spend a lot of time outdoors
• people who have a family history of skin cancer or melanoma

When I was younger and out playing with the dinosaurs, there was no such thing as sunscreen for my mom to slather on me. I would burn so badly that people were sure they smelled bacon cooking. Anyone close enough could hear my skin sizzling. My Italian girlfriend used baby oil and iodine to tan better and I thought it would work on me, too. Yeah, it worked... as a basting sauce! It took a couple trips to the doctor to figure out what was causing the crispy skin, but I finally got it through my head that I was just not the tanning type.

Today there is plenty of advice available to protect our children and ourselves. My early days of roasting on the beach has caught up with me and I've had several melanomas removed. It's important for everyone to check their skin and watch for changes in freckles or moles. If one starts to look weird to you, itches, bleeds, or changes color or shape, get to a dermatologist as soon as possible.

Although darker skinned people are less at risk of developing skin cancer than fair skinned people, they are especially at risk of developing melanoma. No one is safe from the harmful effects of the sun!

How to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays

Use sunscreen. Besides staying in the house all the time, this is absolutely your best bet to prevent skin cancer. Choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 15, but preferably higher, and use it every day. The American Cancer Society says that sunscreen alone isn't enough protection, so read on...

Important note: Sunscreen should be applied to dry skin half an hour before you're exposed to the sun. Don't expect it to do it's job if you wait til you're out in the sun to slather it on, or worse, after you've been in the water! If you're going to wear insect repellent or makeup, apply the sunscreen first.

Avoid being out at midday in direct sunlight. Send your kids out to play in the morning or afternoon. The sun's rays are strongest from 10am - 4pm.

Stay in the shade. If you really must be outside, stay cool and out of direct sunlight. Wear sunscreen even if you're in the shade because the sun's rays can be reflected off water, sand, cement, windows, and other surfaces.

Wear clothing to protect your skin. Find a stylish wide brimmed hat to protect your head and face. Your hair can't get skin cancer, of course, but it can be badly damaged by the sun. The wide brimmed hat will keep the sun off your face.

Sun glasses that block UV rays will protect your eyes and eyelids. Look for an ANSI label to be sure the glasses block at least 99% of UV rays. My parents thought sunglasses were adult accessories, but it's important to protect children's eyes with good sunglasses, too. Put a cord on them if you're afraid they'll lose them.

The American Cancer Society says that more than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the US are considered to be sun-related. If you or your children are at a higher risk, follow the guidelines above. Remember to avoid tanning beds and sunlamps, which will also cause serious long term skin damage even though you're not exposed to the sun.

Think you've learned something? Take the American Cancer Society Sun Safety Quiz and find out your Sun-Safety IQ. It's only 9 quick questions. Go for it!