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Skin Cancer
When we first start our exposure to sun as kids, it is considered a key risk factor for skin cancer. Just one sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of getting melanoma (skin cancer) later in life. The other side of this is that if we can prevent sunburns in kids, the probability of skin cancer and death from skin cancer decreases.
Keeping children and teens safe from early childhood:
- Skin cancer prevention begins in childhood.
- A large percentage of most adults sun exposure occurred during their childhood and teenage years, while they were playing sports, swimming at the pool, or hanging out at the beach.
- There are many things you can do and teach your child to prevent melanoma and other skin cancers. You must keep infants out of the sun and protect children with sunscreen.
- But as they get older, it is important that they understand the risks of sun exposure and take care of themselves.
Who all are most vulnerable to skin cancer?
Anyone can get skin cancer.
- People who burn easily in the sun, who lack natural pigment protection, are most at risk for skin cancer.
- Typically, people with fair skin, blonde or light coloured hair, green or blue eyes and people who freckle easily are at greatest risk.
- People with xeroderma pigmentation (a rare, inherited skin disorder) are at risk of skin cancer.
- However, skin cancer can also occur in people with darker complexions.
- People who have had a family member with melanoma should pay special attention to sun protection.
Why should teens take special care?
Once children move into their teen years, their outdoor activities change. They take up outdoor sports like soccer, hockey, cricket. Many take up outdoor jobs. Since they cannot avoid the sun, skin protection is very important.
Skin cancer and tanning beds, tanning booths:
All of us pay lot of attention on looking healthy, young and beautiful.
Studies have shown that most teenagers do not use sun block and will endure repeated sunburns to obtain an "attractive" tan. Many use tanning beds, tanning parlours and sunlamps without knowing that these expose you to dangerous UV rays that can cause skin damage and later on cancer.
How can you as a parent help your child ?
Encourage children to appreciate their own bodies and natural skin tone, so that they will avoid using unhealthy ways to change their appearance.
Teens mostly try to make their own decisions on everything. However, if you teach them good sun protection when they are very small, they will be the ones reminding you to apply sunscreen, and in their teen years will avoid tanning parlours and excess sun exposure
Special tips to teens:
The best way to catch skin cancer before it spreads and becomes difficult to cure, is by careful and regular self examination and routine examination by a doctor.
Looking for signs of skin cancer is a challenge because most of us have some or the other spot on our skin - birthmarks, moles, freckles - which are usually normal. But some may be skin cancers.
Also, while self-examination, check out for anything abnormal happening on your skin.
When choosing a sun screen, what should you look for?
There are two kinds of sun block available-
One is the reflective type, which is also known as a "physical" block; this contains minerals which bounce back light to stop UV hitting the skin.
The other type is a chemical sun screen, which works by absorbing the UV light and preventing it entering the skin, where it can cause damage.
If you have sensitive skin, the reflective sun block is better, as the chemicals can irritate when they interact with the sun.