At one time skin cancer was more likely to be a woman’s disease. After all, many more women sunbath then men. Women worry more about how they look and trying to be attractive they will spend more time sunbathing and tanning. A least that’s what everyone thought. Recent studies are showing some surprising results when it comes to skin cancer rates and who’s affected.
The rates of men developing skin cancer are rising steadily. They have increased by twelve percent in the last six years. The rise for women has only been two percent over the same period of time. With men the skin cancer is often found on their backs, a difficult place to see changes if you’re not looking for them. Men are less likely to do a self-examination and so less likely to find these abnormal moles. Another reason for them developing on the back is that when men work outside without tops on they are often working with their backs to the sun. Based on the obvious physical differences between men and women you will very often see a man working outside topless while woman do not. Consider summer jobs like lawn mowing, exterior house painting or making their own car repairs. Studies also report that, surprisingly, men over forty are outside more than their younger counterparts.
Recent studies have reported that forty four percent of men over fifty are developing skin cancer. Of this group, ninety seven percent are Caucasian. Of that group thirty seven percent were fair skinned. Twenty eight percent of them had a family history of skin cancer. While thirty three percent had a history of having moles that had changed in appearance before. Some of the reasons blamed for these dramatic increases in skin cancer in men include travel, an increase in summer sports including water sports, soccer and basketball, and a reflection of more convertibles on the street. Another reason is that although they will often wear hats in the sun, mainly for appearance, they are less likely to use sunscreens.
African Americans are far less likely to develop skin cancer and when they do its usually on the soles of the feet or palms of their hands. This shows that the sun’s rays are unlikely to be the cause of these cancers. So far they do not seem to have the answers to what does. Oddly, African Americans have a higher mortality rate despite the lower risk.
Men have a poorer prospect for recovery than women. Survival rates are not great unless the cancer is discovered early. On the other hand if it is discovered early the recovery rate is quite good. Doctors feel that one of the biggest problems with men and skin cancer, though studies show its men and any health problem, is the male reluctance to go to their health care provider when a problem is found. Delays in seeing the doctor when you have a suspicious mole can make the difference between a cure and death.
Skin cancer is a disease that affects a vast cross-section of the population. An approximated one in five Americans will be diagnosed with a case of skin cancer in their lifetime. Many people believe that simply applying a high-SPF sunscreen will be sufficient protection when it comes to avoiding the risk of skin cancer. However, new studies show that the sunscreens that we trust to protect us against the sun’s harmful rays may not be as effective as we once thought they were.
Sunscreen provides the body with a good layer of protection from UV-B rays. UV-B rays are emitted by the sun, and they are the main entity responsible for people getting sunburns. By wearing a high SPF value sunscreen, you block many of the effects caused by the UV-B rays, and you probably won’t get a burned by the sun. However, most sunscreens do not provide sufficient protection from UV-A rays. Also, people that expose themselves to the sun while wearing sunscreen tend to stay out longer, allowing more and more UV-A rays to penetrate their skin. The increased exposure to the sun’s rays can add up; the risks of skin cancer increase regardless of how many UV-B rays that your sunscreen filters out. The UV-A rays tend to penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin, and they are also known to have a greater potential when it comes to giving you wrinkles or even skin cancer.
To that end, it is important to choose your sunscreen products wisely. If you wish to protect your body against all the rays of the sun, it’s important to choose a sunscreen that features broad-spectrum protection. “Broad-spectrum” refers to the different types of rays that the sunscreen protects against, both UV-A and UV-B. These products are known to help ward off the effects of the harmful UV-A rays better than their common sunscreen counterparts. For the best protection against UV-A rays, you should look for a sunscreen that contains the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and/or avobenzone.
It is also important to ensure that the sunscreen that you select has a high SPF value to keep the UV-B rays at bay. As a matter of fact, the SPF value advertised for sunscreens refers only to their ability to block the effects of UV-B rays. When going to the beach, be sure to pick up a sunscreen that is water-resistant. Also, it’s important to reapply the sunscreen regularly to ensure that you are getting a full protection. Another factor to note is how thinly you are spreading the sunscreen. Many people who use sunscreen apply too thin of a layer, limiting the effectiveness of the compound.
While sunscreen may not be as efficient as we once thought, it is still important to wear. They do protect the body against skin cancer, albeit in a limited way. The number of skin cancer diagnoses increase by the year, so it’s important to do all that you can do to protect your body.
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