May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
- May is Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month, and in observation of this, Dr. Susan Chon of MD Anderson Cancer Center is sharing what she wishes more people knew about melanoma.
- Melanoma is a skin cancer that starts in the cells that give your skin, hair and eyes their color.
- Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body, SurvivorNet experts say.
First, it's important to understand what melanoma is.
Read MoreSince it's so deadly, Dr. Chon is attempting to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of his skin cancer so more people can catch the disease before it's too late.
Dr. Chon: What to Know About Melanoma
First on Dr. Chon's list is the age in which a person can develop melanoma.
According to the American Cancer Society, the average age for a melanoma diagnosis is 65, however, melanoma is also the second most common cancer among people ages 15 to 29.
"They are fairly healthy and don't seem to have any problems so this is one of those areas where we have tried to make a lot more kind of headway in educating young people about sun protection and also just checking their skin," Dr. Chon told KPRC-TV in Houston.
"It can make a big difference if any of these skin cancers, especially melanoma, are diagnosed early," she added. "The survival rate goes up significantly if you can find them and detect them sooner."
Next on Dr. Chon's list is the fact that experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 increases a person's risk of developing melanoma by 80%.
Dr. Chon also wants people to know that melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, including your eyes, scalp, nails and feet.
How to Protect Your Skin From Cancer
Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon and associate at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, previously told SurvivorNet that protecting your skin is easy with these simple steps:
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
- Sun avoidance during peak hours: This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you go outdoors.
- Cover your skin and eyes: Wearing a wide brim hat or sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher: Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Dr. Engelman recommends reapplying every few hours, or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Get an annual skin check: If you happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks (like the signs outlined in this article), schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
- No-go to tanning beds: Tanning beds can significantly increase your risk of developing melanoma. If you feel like you're just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner.
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