Post by bigfan on May 27, 2010 11:21:49 GMT -5
www.presstelegram.com/ci_15169176
LONG BEACH - With sunny skies and highs in the 80s forecast for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial launch of summer, people will flock to beaches, barbecues and other outdoor venues.
But those looking for a tan should beware: Skin cancer rates are rising, and a healthy tan is an oxymoron, dermatologists said.
"There's no such thing as a healthy tan," said Long Beach-based dermatologist Dr. Zena Gabriel. "When the skin turns brown, the body is producing more of the skin pigment melanin as a defense mechanism against the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It's an umbrella to protect the cells."
Most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sunlamps, as known carcinogens.
Sunlight has two types of harmful rays:
UVA rays (which pass through window glass) are linked to long-term skin damage such as wrinkles and age spots.
UVB rays, the sun's burning rays (which are blocked by window glass) are the primary cause of sunburn and the main culprit of most skin cancers.
Skin cancer increasing
More than 1 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers, are found each year, according to the American Cancer Society's web site. About 800,000 to 900,000 are basal cell cancers, which begin in the lowest layer of the epidermis. Squamous cell cancer, which starts in the upper part of the epidermis, is less common - there are about 200,000 to 300,000 cases per year. About 2,000 people die of non-melanoma skin cancer each year in the United States.
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for melanoma in the United States are for 2009: 68,720 new cases of melanoma and 8,650 deaths from melanoma
Melanoma, which begins in the cells that produce the skin pigment melanin, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. The rates are increasing faster in females 15-29 years old than males in the same age group, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Caucasians and men older than 50 years of age are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population, according to the academy.
Not taking precautions
Despite the warnings about overexposure to the sun and tanning beds, men and women have have been slow to change their behaviors, Gabriel said.
"People are getting the message but not doing anything about it because they don't see the effects until years later," Gabriel said. "It's like coronary artery disease is directly related to a diet high in saturated fats, but the public still enjoy foods high in animal meat.
"People only avoid behaviors that have an immediate adverse reaction," she said.
High cure rate
Fortunately, all skin cancers are highly curable if detected early and treated properly, dermatologists said.
The best way to detect skin cancer early is an annual self-examination from head to toe, looking for changes in moles and skin growths, Gabriel said.
Basal cell cancers appear as either reddish patches, pink growths with crusted indentations at the center or a shiny translucent bump.
Squamous growths resemble warts and often crust or bleed. Reddish or skin-colored scaly patches can evolve into squamous cell cancers.
About one-third of melanomas evolve from moles. When examining moles for potential cancer, dermatologists cite the ABCDE rule:
Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half.
Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched or blurred.
Color: Different shades of tan, brown, or black are often present. Dashes of red, white and blue can add to the mottled appearance.
Diameter: Melanomas usually are greater than 6 millimeters in diameter - about the size of a pencil eraser - when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
Evolving: A mole or skin lesion looks different from other ones or is changing in size, shape or color.
Individuals with lighter-toned skin are more susceptible to ultraviolet damage, although people of all races and ethnicities can be at risk for skin cancer. People who have a family history of skin cancer, plenty of moles or freckles or a history of severe sunburns early in life are at a higher risk of skin cancer as well, dermatologists said.
Since sun damage is cumulative, prevention efforts need to start with children. Most of the damage, anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent, occurs by the age of 18, said Gabriel, who added that protection from intense ultraviolet radiation should be a life-long practice for everyone.
phillip.zonkel@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1258
LONG BEACH - With sunny skies and highs in the 80s forecast for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial launch of summer, people will flock to beaches, barbecues and other outdoor venues.
But those looking for a tan should beware: Skin cancer rates are rising, and a healthy tan is an oxymoron, dermatologists said.
"There's no such thing as a healthy tan," said Long Beach-based dermatologist Dr. Zena Gabriel. "When the skin turns brown, the body is producing more of the skin pigment melanin as a defense mechanism against the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It's an umbrella to protect the cells."
Most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sunlamps, as known carcinogens.
Sunlight has two types of harmful rays:
UVA rays (which pass through window glass) are linked to long-term skin damage such as wrinkles and age spots.
UVB rays, the sun's burning rays (which are blocked by window glass) are the primary cause of sunburn and the main culprit of most skin cancers.
Skin cancer increasing
More than 1 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers, are found each year, according to the American Cancer Society's web site. About 800,000 to 900,000 are basal cell cancers, which begin in the lowest layer of the epidermis. Squamous cell cancer, which starts in the upper part of the epidermis, is less common - there are about 200,000 to 300,000 cases per year. About 2,000 people die of non-melanoma skin cancer each year in the United States.
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for melanoma in the United States are for 2009: 68,720 new cases of melanoma and 8,650 deaths from melanoma
Melanoma, which begins in the cells that produce the skin pigment melanin, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. The rates are increasing faster in females 15-29 years old than males in the same age group, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Caucasians and men older than 50 years of age are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population, according to the academy.
Not taking precautions
Despite the warnings about overexposure to the sun and tanning beds, men and women have have been slow to change their behaviors, Gabriel said.
"People are getting the message but not doing anything about it because they don't see the effects until years later," Gabriel said. "It's like coronary artery disease is directly related to a diet high in saturated fats, but the public still enjoy foods high in animal meat.
"People only avoid behaviors that have an immediate adverse reaction," she said.
High cure rate
Fortunately, all skin cancers are highly curable if detected early and treated properly, dermatologists said.
The best way to detect skin cancer early is an annual self-examination from head to toe, looking for changes in moles and skin growths, Gabriel said.
Basal cell cancers appear as either reddish patches, pink growths with crusted indentations at the center or a shiny translucent bump.
Squamous growths resemble warts and often crust or bleed. Reddish or skin-colored scaly patches can evolve into squamous cell cancers.
About one-third of melanomas evolve from moles. When examining moles for potential cancer, dermatologists cite the ABCDE rule:
Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half.
Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched or blurred.
Color: Different shades of tan, brown, or black are often present. Dashes of red, white and blue can add to the mottled appearance.
Diameter: Melanomas usually are greater than 6 millimeters in diameter - about the size of a pencil eraser - when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
Evolving: A mole or skin lesion looks different from other ones or is changing in size, shape or color.
Individuals with lighter-toned skin are more susceptible to ultraviolet damage, although people of all races and ethnicities can be at risk for skin cancer. People who have a family history of skin cancer, plenty of moles or freckles or a history of severe sunburns early in life are at a higher risk of skin cancer as well, dermatologists said.
Since sun damage is cumulative, prevention efforts need to start with children. Most of the damage, anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent, occurs by the age of 18, said Gabriel, who added that protection from intense ultraviolet radiation should be a life-long practice for everyone.
phillip.zonkel@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1258
