Sunscreen and Cancer Prevention

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans will have skin cancer by 70, and if you've had more than five sunburns in your lifetime, it doubles your risk for melanoma.

Sun damage comes from two kinds of rays — ultraviolet A (UVA, or longwave) and ultraviolet B (UVB, or short-wave).

UVA deeply penetrates the skin and contributes to signs of aging. It can also cause skin cancer. UVA rays are strong enough to burn your skin even on cloudy days.

UVB rays do not penetrate as deeply as UVA. However, exposure can lead to sunburn, skin damage and eye damage.

Sun exposure can also lead to skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. This form of cancer could present as changes in your skin, including moles. If a mole or mark displays one of the following ABCs, ask your doctor to check it for cancer.

• Asymmetrical
• Borders are ragged
• Color varies throughout
• Diameter is larger than a pencil eraser
• Evolves over time

To protect yourself from future skin damage, wear sunscreen outdoors, even on cloudy days. The number of sunscreen options in your neighborhood drugstore can seem overwhelming. And how can you know whether the claims on the bottle are true? The Food and Drug Administration recently changed labeling standards for sunscreen. Here's what you should know:

• Products that are broad spectrum and have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 can protect against sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer and skin aging.
• Products that are not broad spectrum or have an SPF of less than 14 carry a "Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert" label.
• Sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays is labeled "broad spectrum."
• Sunscreens can no longer be labeled as "waterproof," "sweatproof," "sunblock" or "instant protection."
• The American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF of 30 or higher, which filters out 97% of the sun's rays.
• Water-resistant sunscreen labels must identify how long the SPF will be effective — either 40 or 80 minutes.

Have you noticed a change in your skin? Let your doctor or a dermatologist take a look.

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