Can melanoma skin cancer be prevented?

Limit ultraviolet (UV) exposure

Reduce your risk of melanoma is the most important way to protect yourself from UV radiation exposure. Practice sun safety when you are outdoors. Simply stay in the shade, is to limit your UV exposure of the best ways. If you want the sun, "slip! Slop! Slap! ...... Wrap" is a slogan that can help you remember some of the key steps you can take to protect yourself from UV:

• Wear shirt.
• Apply sunscreen.
• Wear a hat.
• Parcel of sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around.

Seek shade.

Limit your exposure to UV light is a very obvious, but very important way, is to avoid direct sunlight outdoors too long. In the middle of the day 10:00 and 16:00, when UV rays are strongest between the hours, which is particularly important. If you are uncertain about the strength of the sun, the use of shadow test: If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun's rays are strongest, it is important to protect yourself.

When you are outdoors, protect your skin. Remember, sunlight (UV) light through clouds, may reflect water, sand, concrete, snow can reach below the water's surface.

UV Index: UV light reaches the ground depends on many factors, including time of day, time of year, altitude, and cloud cover. To help people better understand the intensity of UV light in their area on a given day, the U.S. National Weather Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a UV index. It gives people the idea of ​​how strong ultraviolet is in their area, from 1 to 11 + scale. Higher number means a higher chance of sunburn, skin damage, and ultimately a variety of skin cancer. Your local daily UV index should be in the local newspaper, on television weather reports, online (www.epa.gov / right turn / uvindex.html), and many smart phone applications.

Protect your skin and clothing

Clothing provide different levels of UV protection, depending on many factors. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants or skirt to protect the most. Dark colors are generally protected more than light colors. Tightly woven fabric protection than loosely woven clothing. Dry than wet fabric fabric is generally more protective.

You know, cover does not block all UV rays. If you can see light through a fabric, UV rays can get through, too.

Some companies are now doing in the U.S. apparel is lightweight, comfortable, even in the wet, to prevent ultraviolet radiation. These protective clothing, there may be a label that lists the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value - from the sun's ultraviolet rays (from 15 to 50 + scale) the level of protection provided by clothing. UPF higher the value, the higher the protection from UV rays.

The newer products, which are used as detergent in the washing machine, you can increase the clothes you already own the UPF values. They do not change the color or texture of the UV protection to your clothes add a layer. This may be useful, but it is not entirely clear how much to increase protect you from UV rays, so it is still important to follow the other steps listed here.

Wear a hat

Is ideal because it protects areas often exposed to strong sunlight, such as the ears, eyes, forehead, nose, scalp hat, for at least 2 - 3 inches around the edges. A dark, non-reflective bottom edges, can also help reduce the amount of UV-reflecting surface reaches the face, such as water. A shade cap (which looks like a baseball cap, about 7 inches, fabric drape down the sides and back) is also good, the neck to provide more protection. These are usually in the sports and outdoor shops.

Baseball cap can protect the front and top of the head, but not the neck or ear, skin cancer usually develops. Hat there is no protection made of tightly woven material.

Use sunscreen

Use sunscreen and lip balm areas of skin exposed to the sun, especially when strong sunlight (for example, 22:00 to 16:00). Recommends a broad-spectrum protection (against UVA and UVB radiation) and sunscreen sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher value. Use sunscreen, ultraviolet light, or break even in the hazy cloud cover a few days or a few days, because there are still passed.

Applying sunscreen, be sure to follow the instructions. In the ideal case, one ounce application (about a palmful of sunscreen) recommends covering an average adult's arms, legs, neck and face. Protection for all under the sun use sunscreen on exposed skin when thick. In order to ensure continuous protection, sunscreen should be reapplied. It is often recommended to do so every two hours. Many sunscreen wash off when you sweat or swim, and then wipe off with a towel, so you must re-apply for the greatest benefits. And do not forget your sunscreen lip balm are also available.

Some people use sunscreen stay out in the sun for a long time did not get sunburn. Sunscreen should not use more than you otherwise would spend more time in the sun, you will eventually damage your skin.

Keep in mind that sunscreen is a filter. The SPF number is how long it will take you sunburn more years, if you do not use it, measures to be taken. For example, if the normal combustion after just five minutes in the sun, use SPF 30 product would mean 150 minutes, you will still get burned. This is assuming you apply it instructions, unfortunately, many people did not have.

Sunscreen can help reduce your exposure to UV light, reducing the risk of melanoma. But there is no guarantee that if you stay in the sun for a long time, you even if you have sunscreen, skin cancer risk.

Wearing sunglasses

Wraparound sunglasses at least 99% UV absorption to provide the best to protect the eyes and the skin around the eye area. Looking labeled as blocking UVA and UVB rays sunglasses. Label, said: "UV absorption up to 400 nm" or "meets ANSI UV requirements" refers glasses block at least 99% of UV rays. If there is no label, do not assume sunglasses give any protection.

Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps

Many people considered harmless UV tanning beds. This is not correct. Tanning lamps emit UVA and UVB rays, both of which can lead to long-term skin damage and can promote skin cancer. Using tanning beds has increased risk of melanoma, especially if it is started before the age of 30. Most dermatologists and medical organizations do not recommend the use of tanning beds and sun lamps.

If you want to have a tan, one option is to use a sunless tanning lotion, which can provide a deeper look no danger. These emulsions contain a substance called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA and protein interactions on the surface of the skin, giving it a darker color. You do not have to go out these tasks laid down in the sun. Colors tend to wear off after a few days. These products can give the skin a darker color (although some people may have a slight orange tones), but if you use one you still need to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when they go out. These tanning does not protect against UV rays.

Some tanning salon offers of DHA as a spray tan. The concern here is an issue, DHA has been approved for external use only and should not be inhaled or sprayed or placed in the mouth, eyes or nose. Choose to get DHA spray tanning, should ensure the protection of these areas.

Protect children from the sun

Children need special attention because they tend to spend more time outdoors, you can more easily burn. Parents and other caregivers should protect children from excessive sun exposure, using the above steps. Older children need attention the sun, they become more independent. This is very important, especially in the part of the world, it was sunny, fully rational cover your child. You should develop the habit for themselves and their children to use sunscreen on exposed skin whenever you go outdoors and may be exposed to a lot of sunlight.

Babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight from the sun protection hat and protective clothing. Sunscreen can be used in a small area of ​​bare skin, and if there is enough clothing and shadows can not.

About sun exposure and vitamin D a word

Doctors are learning that vitamin D has many health benefits. It may even help reduce the risk of certain cancers. Vitamin D is made naturally your skin when you are in the sun. How much vitamin D depends on you to do many things, including how old you are, how dark your skin is, and how strong the sun is where you live.

At this time, doctors do not know what is the best vitamin D levels. In this respect a lot of research is being done. Whenever possible, it is better to get from your diet or supplements vitamin vitamin D, rather than from sun exposure, because the food sources and vitamin supplements, does not increase the risk of skin cancer, and usually more reliable way to get The amount you need.

On how to protect yourself and your family from UV exposure For more information, please see our documentation, skin cancer prevention and early detection.

And they looked abnormal moles removed

Certain types of moles to develop into melanoma have an increased risk (see "What is melanoma skin cancer risk factors?"). If you have a mole, depending on how they look, your doctor may want to closely watch them regularly checked or delete them if they have certain characteristics, suggesting that they may change into melanoma.

Generally not recommended routinely removed many moles as a way to prevent melanoma. Some may develop melanoma mole, but most do not. If you have many moles, more careful, routine checks by a dermatologist, do monthly skin self-examination may be recommended.

If you find a new, unusual, or changing mole, you should have the examining physician to identify skin cancer experience. See "-melanoma skin cancer early detection do?" Description of what to look for.

Genetic counseling and testing

Can increase the risk of melanoma handed down through the family, but they account for only a small portion of melanoma gene mutation (change). You may have inherited a gene mutation, increasing your risk of melanoma if the following apply:

One side of your family members have several melanoma

One or more members of the household melanoma

There are two family members melanoma and pancreatic cancer

You have more than one melanoma

CDKN2A (also known as P16) gene mutations have been found, such as the high rate of melanoma in some families. Test these genetic changes, and now, although they have not been widely recommended by doctors at this time. People who are interested to learn whether they carry genes associated with melanoma may want to think about the changes involved in genetic research, will promote progress in this field.

Get any type of genetic testing, it's important to know what kind of results that may or may not tell you, you risk ahead of time. Genetic testing is not perfect, in some case, the detection may not provide solid answers. This is why the meeting with the genetic counselor before testing is crucial in determining whether the test should be done.

Because it is a useful test results may not be clear, most experts do not recommend melanoma personal or family history of melanoma genetic testing of people at this time. Still, some people may choose to detect. In any case, a family history of melanoma, should ask their doctor about skin often exams, learning to do skin self-examination, and special care sun safety.