Skin Cancer Prevention

Understanding how skin cancer develops and how to protect yourself and your family from skin cancer is very important. Statistics state that 1 in 7 people will develop skin cancer.

There are three types of skin cancer:

  • basal cell carcinoma
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • malignant melanoma.

Basal and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms of skin cancer. They are usually found on areas of the body frequently exposed to the sun such as the neck, ears, face and forearms. Malignant melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and is the major cause of death from skin cancer. Skin cancer is caused from exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from artificial sources, such as, tanning beds.

What is Ultraviolet Radiation (UV)?

Ultraviolet radiation, from the sun, is invisible light.

  • UV-A causes wrinkling and aging of the skin and some skin cancers. UV-A penetrates the skin more deeply than UV-B.
  • UV-B causes skin cancer and cataracts to the eyes, which is the leading cause of blindness in the world. UV-B also is harmful to some plant life forms.
  • UV-C never reaches the earth as it is absorbed or filtered out by the atmosphere.

Both UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun are responsible for sunburns and suntans.

Artificial Sources of Ultraviolet Radiation
The use of tanning beds, tanning booths and tanning lamps are not safe ways to tan. Using tanning equipment can increase the risk of skin cancer, especially if use begins early in life and/or is frequent.

Remember - no tan is a safe tan.

The UV Index

The UV Index is defined as a measure of the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. In Canada the UV index ranges from 0 to 11+.
UV levels are influenced by environmental factors:

  • Sun height - the higher the sun is in the sky, the higher the UV radiation level. The maximum UV index levels occur at noon during the summer months.
  • Latitude - levels of UV radiation are higher as you get closer to the equator.
  • Cloud cover - UV levels can still be high because of the water molecules and fine particles in the atmosphere.
  • Altitude - UV levels are higher when at higher altitudes, such as when downhill skiing. The atmosphere is thinner and less UV is filtered.
  • Ozone - some of the UV is absorbed by the ozone.
  • Reflection - UV can be reflected or scattered from ground surfaces. Snow reflects up to 80%, while sand, cement and grass reflect 15% and sea foam reflects about 25%.
How to protect your family from ultraviolet radiation?

There are many ways to protect yourself and your family from the harmful UV rays from the sun.

Follow these tips for sun safety:

  • Use a sunscreen with SPF15 or higher;
  • Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants;
  • Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses with 100% UV protection;
  • Try to seek or make your own shade between 11 am and 4 pm when the sun is at it’s hottest;
  • Avoid using tanning beds or tanning lamps;
  • Babies under 6 months should not have sunscreen applied to their skin—keep children under 1 year out of direct sunlight.
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