Prevent skin cancer
by protecting yourself
and your kids
from the sun
Depending on your age you might remember that we didn't always wear...
a pandemic mask
a bicycle helmet
safety goggles
or even a seat belt
...and many people still aren't serious about preventing skin cancer by protecting their skin from sun damage.
Sun Protection
Primary vs. Secondary Prevention
Secondary skin cancer prevention refers to detecting and treating a cancer as early as possible. Sun Safety for Kids is devoted to primary skin cancer prevention which means, “Don’t get it in the first place.”
Skin cancer is among the most preventable of all types of cancer and most of it can be avoided if we would just modify our behavior in the sun.
Of the more than five million skin cancers that occur every year in the U.S., the vast majority were caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation stemming from overexposure to natural or artificial sunlight. Of course, life on earth as we know it couldn’t exist without the sun. But we humans have the capability to easily protect ourselves from skin-damaging rays coming at us from that giant nuclear reactor called the sun.
SUN DAMAGE ACCUMULATES - STARTING IN CHILDHOOD
Cancer-causing sun damage is accumulated throughout a person’s lifetime with much of it being sustained during childhood and the teen years.
That’s why it’s so important for sun safety to be provided and taught to every child. This will directly reduce their skin cancer risk, and will heighten the likelihood that they will adopt a sun-protective lifestyle and eventually pass this on to their own children.
UV IS A KNOWN HUMAN CARCINOGEN
There is no established safe dose for intentional exposure to a carcinogen, such as, tobacco smoke or the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. When it became clear that smoking tobacco causes lung cancer, steps were taken, and laws were passed, to discourage or prohibit smoking. By contrast, exposure to UV radiation is still commonly encouraged when for example cruise ships and resorts arrange lounge chairs in full sun to entice customers to bathe themselves in the carcinogen beaming down from the sky.
SUNTANNING CAUSES MUTATIONS
Efforts that some people take to get a “nice tan” often result in a sunburn, which is severely damaging. Even without burning, intentional suntanning raises the risk of skin cancer.
A suntan is visible proof that the skin has been damaged and as a result mutations have probably occurred in the skin cells.
The so-called incubation period between the time that sun damage causes mutations until the time that they grow into a tumor can span years or decades. This gives young people a false sense of security that no harm is occurring from their sunbathing.
PHOTOAGING
In addition to cancer risk, suntanning, especially when it’s done with the “aid” of sunscreen, allows proportionately more UVA rays to penetrate the skin and these are the rays that cause premature “photoaging” resulting in brown spots, wrinkles, etc. Teens are commonly shocked when special ultraviolet photography reveals how many sun-induced age spots, which are not yet visible in ordinary lighting, have already formed on their face.
It’s too bad that this type of photography isn’t more readily available. It could provide a reality check against the false belief of being unharmed by the sun.
NATURAL SKIN PIGMENTATION
Make no mistake. Having naturally pigmented skin, or skin of color, is completely different from acquiring a suntan, and does not increase the risk of skin cancer. Quite the opposite. Research has shown that black skin affords protection similar to sunscreen with an SPF level of 13.
Skin cancer happens to people of all skin tones, so everyone should practice careful sun safety regardless of their natural skin shade. However, the risk of skin cancer is highest, and the need for careful sun protection is the greatest, among people with the least amount of natural pigment, such as those with white skin, red or blonde hair, or freckles.
SUN PROTECTION ELEMENTS
Many people equate “sun protection” with “sunscreen” as if that’s all there is. We are certainly grateful that good sunscreen products are available, but there are other methods of sun protection that everyone should consider. Follow the links in this Sun Protection section for in-depth information on these and important related topics.
AN IMPORTANT VITAMIN
When exposed to sun, the skin produces vitamin D. So, careful sun protection could result in vitamin D deficiency. Some studies have shown that people who use sunscreen usually do not develop significantly lower vitamin D levels but that could be because they don’t always, or don’t effectively, apply their sunscreen.
We strongly disagree with the common advice that says, “you need a little sun to get your vitamin D.” It’s safer and more effective to take a vitamin D supplement. Read more on our vitamin D page.
