Posts Tagged ‘Ways’

Skin Cancer Prevention: 5 Ways To Protect Yourself From UV Rays

Skin cancer prevention measures can actively reduce your chances of developing skin cancer if you implement them in your daily routine. The most common form of cancer in the United States, tens of thousands of Americans contract skin cancer every year.

Skin cancer comes in three forms: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Of the three, melanoma is the most dangerous and life threatening. Skin cancer claims the lives of approximately ten thousand Americans on an annual basis.

What causes skin cancer?

Overexposure to ultraviolet sunlight (UV rays) is believed to be the dominant external factor in a person’s development of skin cancer, although genetic factors can play a role. To protect yourself from UV rays, you should take the following 5 steps for proper skin cancer prevention:

1. Avoid Direct Sun Exposure: Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight during midday (generally from 10am to 4pm). This is the time when UV rays are most intense. Plan your schedule to avoid outdoor activities during these hours. Also, be aware that sand and snow reflect sunlight, so if you’re at the beach or a ski resort, direct sunlight can bombard you from every direction with UV rays.

2. Cover Yourself: When out in the sun, keep your skin covered. Wear long-sleeves and long pants if possible. Wearing a hat with a 3 to 4 inch brim all around is preferable. This will guard your neck and cheeks from dangerous prolonged exposure. Also note that dry, dark-colored garments offer the best protection.

3. Use Sunscreen Properly: You should always use sunscreen when enduring prolonged exposure in the sun. Find a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of at least 15 and read the directions for proper application. The higher the SPF, the higher the protection you will receive against dangerous sunburns. However, sunscreen does not offer “bulletproof” protection, and UV rays can penetrate water, so just because you feel “cool” in the water doesn’t mean you’re protected from sunburn.

4. Use Sunglasses That Block UV Rays: Making certain your sunglasses can block UV rays helps to guard your eyes from serious sun damage. The best constructed sunglasses should have a UV ray absorption rate of 99% to 100%. Never assume that darker lenses equal increased protection. UV rays are blocked by a chemical applied to the lenses. This chemical has nothing to do with the color of transparency of sunglass lenses.

5. Stay Away From Tanning Beds: It is a myth to believe that tanning beds and sunlamps are free of harmful UV rays. These cosmetic instruments might make your skin more attractive in the short-term, but they can significantly increase your risk of developing skin cancer in the long-term. Health professionals advise their patients to avoid them.

By implementing these 5 steps in your daily routine, you can significantly decrease your risk of developing skin cancer, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle that allows for proper exposure to the sun. Another important step in prevention of skin cancer is routine examination by a doctor. If skin cancer is detected early, then your odds of survival are markedly increased.

Easy Ways to Deal With Skin Cancer Side Effects

Sufferings from side effects are very common when undergoing a treatment for skin cancer. This is more common if you are receiving radiation treatments or chemotherapy. One tends to suffer from several skin conditions such as rashes, redness, acne, peeling and dryness frequently. Some skin cancer patients may also feel that they are more sensitive to sunlight. Other may observe their nails becoming brittle and dark.

However, there is nothing to panic because consistent consultation with your health care team can cure some of these side effects and may also treat them.

Here are some great tips to deal with certain side effects one may face during the treatment of skin cancer:

a) You can easily deal with rashes and itches via powdering your body with corn starch.

b) Take frequent showers and use a moisturizing soap to relieve dry skin problems. You must avoid long hot baths. Hot baths only necessary when you are or an oatmeal treatment.

c) It would not be wise to use any products on your skin. The products you must avoid must include cologne, perfume, after shave lotion and all products containing alcohol. These products can dry out your skin. Also avoid using all types of astringents including witch hazel.

d) Inform your doctor immediately about any pain or burning sensation on your skin while on IV drugs. Pain or burning sensation is an indication that medicine is leaking out the veins.

e) Ask your doctor whether you can take B vitamins to deal with brittle or darkened finger or toe nails. You can also protect your nails via wearing proper gloves or foot wear when working or gardening

f) You need to take certain precaution while going outside once you find yourself hyper sensitive to sunlight. Wear good sunscreen, wear protective clothing. Also use lip balms to deal with this side effects.

g) Keep visiting an oncologist or dermatologist about your progress during the treatment.

h) You should avoid tanning beds and heat lamps at tanning salons. The ultraviolet ray coming out of these heat lamps (UV-A rays) can easily penetrate in to the skin deeper as compared to UV-B rays that come from sunlight.

i) Take supplements for vitamin A or D. Try using dairy products enriched with vitamin A and D.

j) Ask for certain creams and moisturizers that may be effective against the dryness due to skin cancer treatment.

k) Keep your face clean and dry if you are suffering from acne due to skin cancer treatment. Ask your doctor in charge to prescribe you some medicated creams or soaps for the same.

l) Always apply cream and lotion while your skin is still moist to combat dryness.

m) A colloid oatmeal bath or diphenhydramine for generalized purities resulting from the treatment of skin cancer.

n) Buy nail-strengthening products.

o) Avoid going out in the sunlight between 10: 00 a.m. and 4: 00 p.m.

p) Always wear long-sleeve cotton shirts, pants and hats with a wide brim. These hats will help you to get some relief from hair loss via blocking the harmful ultraviolet sun rays.

q) Keep informing your doctor about any inconvenience that you face during the skin cancer treatment.