»

Preventing Cancer of the Skin

This page was reviewed or revised on Thursday, October 22, 2009 2:57 PM

Preventing Skin Cancer - Be Sun Safe - Not Sorry

This year, more than 61,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with skin cancer. Unlike most cancers, skin cancer is almost totally preventable.

How Can The Sun Cause Cancer?

According to the Canadian Dermatological Association (CDA), ultraviolet light works in many different ways to cause skin cancer. Each time skin is exposed to sun and becomes tanned or burned, damage is done to individual cells and to DNA. Some cells die and some repair themselves by getting rid of the damaged DNA. Cells that cannot repair themselves eventually become defective cells. UVR (Ultra Violet Radiation) lowers the body's immune system, and this makes it difficult to destroy defective cells. Defective cells that are not destroyed can slowly grow and produce a cancerous tumour.

Protect yourself and your family by following these simple steps:

• Keep sun exposure to a minimum, especially between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the ultraviolet rays are the strongest.
• Don't be fooled by clouds -- most of the sun's rays can get through.
• Cover up! Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt and pants during prolonged periods in the sun.
• Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more and protects from UVA and UVB rays. Reapply every two hours.
• Lips are very vulnerable to skin cancers - protect them with a balm of SPF 15
• Keep babies under one year out of direct sunlight. Do not use sunscreen on babies under 6 months old.
• Choose sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.
• Look for shaded areas under trees, umbrellas, or awnings.

 
It's Your Body And Your Children's Too - Act Sun-sensibly

Monitor yourself and your children throughout your time in the sun to make sure you have the proper mix of shade, clothing and sunscreen. To help you remember this think of the 4 s's; slip, slap, slop and shade.

1. Slip on a T-shirt
2. Slap on a hat
3. Slop on some sunscreen and
4. Step into the shade

For more information about sun safety or to help establish policies to increase shaded areas, contact Marnie Garrett at the Community Health Services at 519-383-8331 ext.508.

 

Artificial Tanning ~ Shedding Light on the Truth

There are many popular myths regarding the use of tanning beds. Here are some examples:

"People with light skin can tan safely at a tanning parlour"
False. People with fair skin have less protective melanin pigment and often burn rather than tan, even using sun lamps

"Tanning beds do not cause skin cancer"
False. The UVA radiation emitted from sun lamps is more powerful than natural sunlight and may be responsible for contributing to wrinkling of the skin, premature aging and skin cancer.(Canadian Dermatological Association)

 

Get The Facts

• Repeated use of tanning beds may cause skin cancer, burns and premature aging of the skin
• Failure to use approved blocking eyewear may result in serious eye injury
• Some medications, cosmetics and lotions increase sensitivity to UV radiation

Healthy Skin is Untanned Skin.

Artificial tanning can cause skin cancer. Make sure you know what danger signs to look for in birthmarks, moles and freckles. If you have any concerns, see your doctor right away. The CDA promotes untanned skin as a standard for physical attractiveness. If you must have a tan it recommends using a self tanning cream applied in the evening followed by SPF 15 sunscreen the next day.

Health Risks Associated with Tanning Lamps - Health Canada analyzes and manages health risks related to ultraviolet radiation. Please refer to the following link for more information on this topic from Health Canada: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/lifestyles/tanning.html

NEW - Community Affair - Practice Sun Safety Everywhere 2006, click here for access (PDF Postcard)

NEW - Over Exposed - Practice Sun Safety, 2006, click here for access (PDF Newsletter)

Links

These links provide much more information on the dangers of over exposure to UV radiation such as; what types of skin are more vulnerable, what to look for when checking your skin and what a UV Index can tell you about sun exposure.

1. Cancer Care Ontario http://www.cancercare.on.ca 
2. Canadian Cancer Society http://www.cancer.ca
3. Canadian Dermatology Association: http://www.dermatology.ca  
4. Health Canada: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/feature/summer/air_sun/uvindex.html  
5. Environment Canada: http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/english/hs/guidelines/uvradiation/gl_uvrad_2.html  
6. Ontario Ministry of Labour: http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/english/hs/guidelines/uvradiation