Benzene & Cancer
- Over recent months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been asked to recall some brand name sunscreens after a study tested 300 sunscreens and found that 78 contained benzene.
- Benzene is a carcinogen found commonly in gasoline and cigarette smoke. Too much exposure to the compound may cause cancer in some circumstances.
- Experts have told SurvivorNet that when choosing a sunscreen, it’s important to look at ingredients listed on the bottle.
Benzene is a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) which can be found in everyday products including cigarette smoke and gasoline. It belongs to a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds, so called because they evaporate in the air, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Read MoreIn order to avoid any possible benzene exposure, make sure to check all the ingredients listed on the sunscreen you’re thinking about purchasing. (Although benzene is not a typical ingredient in sunscreen, but most likely a byproduct of another ingredient.) Also, make sure to do some solid research into whether there’s been any allegations that products may contain benzene.
Dr. George Yaghmour explains the link between benzene and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Safely Protecting Your Skin
Sunscreen is perhaps the best way all of us can protect our skin year-round, which can help prevent a possible skin cancer or melanoma diagnosis. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, affecting 100,350 adults annually. A majority of times, the cancer is caused by dangerous, extensive amounts of sun damage to the skin, and can develop from an existing mole or appear as a pink growth on the skin even appearing in places that were never directly exposed to the sun.
Experts have confirmed wearing sunscreen regularly is the best way to prevent skin damage and helps you decrease your risk of developing skin cancer. However, as we know, there's way too many sunscreen brands to choose from, but Dr. Snehal Amin, a dermatologist in Manhattan, says it's important to focus on ingredients rather than brands to determine which sunscreen is the best fit.
Related: Melanoma Awareness: Yes, You Still Need to Protect Your Skin In The Winter
“There are a lot of brands of sunscreens and it makes it hard to choose which product to use,” Dr. Amin previously told SurvivorNet. “My recommendation is really focus on the ingredients rather than the brands. If you like the way the brand feels on your skin, if you like the purpose of the brand: for instance, sport versus daily use or daytime use versus a short burst of activity use, I think those are more important factors than actual brands.”
Dr. Cecilia Larocca explains how sunscreen can prevent skin cancer
Tips to Check Your Skin
One of the best ways to prevent catching skin cancer too late is by regularly checking your skin for any changes of indicators that something is wrong. To help you out, SurvivorNet talked to experts who shared some helpful steps in checking your skin.
It's recommended that you check your skin at least once a month to make sure everything checks out, and visit your physician if you believe something might be suspicious. When checking your skin, there's a helpful guide to follow, and it's called the ABCDE system.
- Asymmetrical moles make sure the moles are equal on both sides
- Borders examine whether the edges of the moles are jagged, irregular, or not smooth
- Colors check if the there are different colors in the mole
- Diameter Measure the mole to see if it's larger than 6 millimeters
- Evolution The most important step in the process. Routinely check to see if the mole change over time, whether it's in color, size, shape, or it's itchy and painful.
Dr. Cecilia Larocca shares tips on checking your skin for cancer
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