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Skin cancer prevention
GENERAL ADVICE
To avoid developing skin cancers related to sun exposure, and to preserve your skin's youthful appearance and health, it is recommended to:
1. Avoid the sun during hours when the ultraviolet rays are the most intense (between 11-15h) while staying in the shade or staying inside.
2. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and apply often. For advice on choosing and using sunscreens effectively, please go to the "sunscreen" section.
3. Use a lip balm with an SPF of at least 30. Lips are often forgotten!
4. Wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays to protect your eyes.
5. Wear hats, long sleeves and long pants and closed shoes to minimize exposure to ultraviolet light. Beware of thin or transparent fabrics as well as those with netting! These clothes do not offer adequate sun protection. Garments with a high UV protection (UVP) protect the skin effectively. To check the UVP, if you do not have access to the PUV index, put your garment against a window and see if light shines through. If this is the case, your garment does not protect you from all ultraviolet rays. Tightly woven fabrics are opaque when you observe them with this test. They are recommended.
FPS
30+
SUNSCREEN
There are several types of sunscreens on the market that protect our skin and prevent damaging our skin cells with ultraviolet radiation. Here are some tips to help you make your choices:
1. Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
2. Choose a broad spectrum (broadspectrum) sunscreen that includes both UVA and UVB rays.
3. Choose a water-repellent sunscreen, a sunscreen that is water and sweat resistant. However, it is important to know that sweat and water, even if the screen is water repellent, accelerate the degradation of the sunscreen. Therefore, it is important to reapply after a swim and wait 20 to 30 minutes in the shade before returning to swim or to do other activities outdoors. It is the same for when you exercise or do an intense sport and sweat: you have to apply it more frequently.
4. Choose a non-comedogenic sunscreen, i.e. a sunscreen that will not clog the pores in the skin and thus will not exacerbate pre-existing acne.
5. Apply a generous amount of the product as evenly as possible. This equates to about a shot glass (1.5oz, 44mL, ~ 3 tablespoons) of sunscreen for the surface of the body of an adult that is being exposed to the sun and a hazelnut the size of a 5 cents coin ( or 1/2 tablespoon) for the face.
6. Let the product dry before sun exposure, ideally for 20 to 30 minutes, regardless of the type of chemical filter (oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, etc.) or physical (titanium dioxide and oxide zinc) used. The reason is to allow time for the sunscreen to form a uniform and durable protective film on the skin, not for the sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin. They are not manufactured to penetrate our cells (it is not necessary for it to work), but a small non-toxic amount is still able to penetrate the skin and reach the bloodstream. As a result, contrary to popular belief, chemical filters do not need to penetrate the skin to work.
7. Reapply the sunscreen after 80 to 120 cumulative minutes of sun exposure. The interval between multiple applications depends on the duration of solar exposure, the level of perspiration, the type of sunscreen used, etc.
For more information on sunscreen, please visit the Canadian Dermatology Association website: https://dermatology.ca/fr/patients-et-grand-public/prudence-au-soleil/faq-ecrans-solaires/
UV RAYS
UV rays from the Sun are mainly filtered by the ozone layer in the atmosphere, but UVA and UVB rays still reach our skin. UVA is associated with signs of photoaging (wrinkles, brown spots, etc.) while UVB is more related to sunburn. An easy trick to remember: UV (A) = Age & UV (B) = Burn! However, UVA AND UVB both cause cancer!
It is therefore important that your sunscreen include broad spectrum protection (broad spectrum) against UVA and UVB.
You can learn about the intensity of UV rays in your area at any time by looking for the UV index of the day in order to prepare you to face the sun accordingly!
MYTHS
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I only need to protect myself from the sun during the summer:
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UV rays are not visible to the naked eye and some parts can penetrate the clouds. In addition, water and snow reflect these rays enormously: 25% and 80% respectively! The level of UV radiation is therefore greater than what is expected during the winter and at the water's edge. It is important to use sun protection measures (sunglasses, clothing, sunscreen) throughout the year as soon as there is sun exposure, regardless of the season or the clouds.
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I do not need to protect myself from the sun inside my car:
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Modern windows manage to block most UVB, but let UVA pass. So even in the absence of sunburn, UV rays still damage the skin. In fact, a high proportion of truck driver and airplane pilot develops skin cancer and premature photoaging compared to the rest of the population. This is due to their prolonged exposure to the sun even though they are behind a window most of the time. It is therefore necessary to protect the exposed parts of the body in the car. To avoid constant reapplication during long travels, it is suggested to wear a visor and / or specifically made gloves to block UV rays. Another practical solution would be to apply films designed to block UVA and UVB on windows. These are available at most hardware stores and online. They are cheap and easy to install.
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Only people with pale complexions can develop malignant melanoma:
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In reality people of ALL skin colors can develop melanoma. Although people with dark complexions have some kind of natural protection and are less likely to have skin cancer, they are not 100% safe! Moreover, the types of melanomas found in dark skin types are found in less suspected places (fingers, palms, soles of the feet) and are much more aggressive and difficult to treat.
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I need UV exposure to get enough vitamin D:
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During the winter, even without sunscreen, sunlight is not intense enough to provide enough vitamin D for most Canadians. Milk, orange juice and vitamin capsules can help fill this vitamin D deficit. It should be noted that a daily exposure of 15 minutes a day to the sun is more than enough to produce the amount of vitamin D which our body needs.
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SUN TANNING
• A tan is often desirable in Western societies because it is associated with an active lifestyle and vacations in Southern countries. However, there is no way to tan safely, because tanning is the state of defence of skin that has been attacked by UV rays. The absence of sunburn after UV exposure does not mean that there has been no damage. On the contrary, your skin is accumulating irreversible damage, and this could lead to cancer in the future.
• There is a myth that a small tan before a holiday in a sunny country will protect you from UV rays. That is not true! In addition, the use of UV tanning beds increases the risk of developing melanoma by up to 8 times, according to the Melanoma Research Foundation! The amount of melanin (brown skin pigment that gives us our natural complexion) produced increases in response to the aggression of your skin by UV rays. More specifically, it damages DNA : this cumulative and repeated damage ultimately overwhelms the ability of the skin to try to repair its DNA and replace its dead cells. It often ends up causing skin cancer. Although melanin has some protective effect against UV rays, it is insufficient. It is estimated that a tanned complexion offers only a maximum SPF of about 3, which is much less than the minimum recommendation of a SPF 30.
• An alternative to UV tanning is self-tanning lotion, spray or cream. These products contain an active ingredient, usually dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and are safe if used as directed. This molecule binds and reacts with dead cells on the surface of the skin to produce a darker complexion. The effect is temporary (can last from a few days to a few weeks) and can help avoid UV exposure. It should be noted that oral capsules that increase melanin production are not recommended because of potential side effects.
SELF EXAMINATION
For an early diagnosis and a better prognosis, it is strongly suggested to examine your skin regularly for any abnormalities, ideally once a month. This is especially important in very pale people, who burn easily, and those who have a family history of skin cancer.
Look for new lesions or spots that grow quickly, irregularly, with or without bleeding. Often, tumors can be fragile and easily damaged without ever really healing. The usual characteristics of melanoma are summarized by the ABCDE rule below. On the other hand, it is important to know that a lesion with one or more criteria of the ABCDE rule can still be benign. The diagnosis is not certain until it has been determined by an expert. If you notice a suspicious lesion, consult a dermatologist or your family doctor as soon as possible.
A: Asymmetry. Divide the lesion in 2 and see if the parts are symmetrical.
B: Irregular and fuzzy borders.
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C: Color. The lesion contains several colors (brown, black, purplish or red).
D: Diameter> 6mm.
E: Changes in color, size, shape, or symptoms (eg, itching, discharge, tenderness, or bleeding). Melanoma is usually painless, but grows quickly. In the case of the image, a mole has developed a black nodule (small bump) in a short time. It is important to note that a nevus (mole) is very rarely becomes melanoma. This cancer usually appears as a new lesion..
Examine your skin carefully, do not forget your feet, your toes, your sides, behind your ears, your scalp or your neck and especially ... YOUR BACK! Be vigilant for the skin of your back, do not hesitate to ask the help of another person if necessary.
For a detailed skin examination guide, please see our attached document (forthcoming).
The images come from the National Cancer Institute website (https://www.cancer.gov).