On last month, I did an article on summer fun. In it I talked about the importance of wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen is essential in preventing skin cancer, the deadliest of these being melanoma. I did some research on this topic and found out some interesting statistics on it:
- The CDC reports that in 2007, almost 60,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma. Of those, 15% died from melanomas of the skin
- The American Melanoma Foundation is estimating the number of melanomas diagnosed in 2009 will be over 121,000.
At this rate, can you imagine how many skin cancers will be diagnosed 10 or 20 years from now? This is slowly becoming an epidemic in this country that is being exacerbated by tanning. UVA and UBV waves are linked to skin aging, cataracts, and skin cancer because the rays damage the skin cellular DNA which cause genetic mutations of the cells which lead to skin cancer. Even the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization has called UV rays a known carcinogen. This applies to all races. Even African Americans can get skin cancer which is why it is important for everyone to wear sunscreen with and SPF of at least 15 or greater. Since UV rays have been linked to most melanomas, prevention will be a key to lower this aggressive trend. Wear sunscreen, check for moles that change in size, shape, or symmetry; and get yearly checks by your primary care or a dermatologist. A little prevention can go a long way to saving your life. To schedule an appointment, please call (704) 863-1550.
