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Skin cancer myths debunked by dermatologists
Posted May 5th 2006 3:33PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Melanoma, Prevention
Florida is a sunshine state and
dermatologists are concerned about the misconceptions people have about sun safety that are putting them at greater risk for skin cancer. For sun worshippers everywhere, here is the truth about some of the myths:
- Skin cancer is not serious. Skin cancer is very serious and skin cancer diagnosis is reaching epidemic levels in this country. More than one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year.
- A base tan shields you from sun damage during the summer. Any darkening of skin from the sun is due to sun damage to the skin. Dermatologists state there is no such thing as a safe tan.
- Sunscreen is all the protection needed. According to dermatologists, while sunscreen does offer some protection from the sun, UV rays can defeat the strongest lotion and damage skin.
- Dark-skinned people are safe from sun damage and skin cancer risks. Brown skin with lots of melanin protects better against UV rays, but at the same time, dark-skinned people are more prone than others to have moles, and moles that become abnormal are a major risk factor for melanoma.
- Skin cancer is an age-related disease of the middle-aged and elderly. Yes, the chances of being diagnosed with cancer does increase as we age. But dermatologists say the number of young adults and even children with skin cancer appear to be rising faster than it is for adults now. The depletion of ozone in the atmosphere is letting in more UV rays.
- Tanning salons are safer than the sun. Tanning booths can be more damaging to the skin because they use pure ultraviolet light.
For information on how to practice sun safety, read
skin cancer prevention kits for kids,
shading kids from the sun,
global warming skin cancer warning, and
pediatricians need to educate parents about sun exposure risks.
Tags: cancer, damage, debunk, dermatologists, global, melanoma, myths, ozone, risks, safety, salons, skin, sun, tanning, thinning, tips, truths, vitamin D, warning, warnings, worship
