Be sun smart when it comes to your skin
It is important to protect you skin against the sun to prevent skin cancer.

It’s SunSmart Skin Cancer Awareness Month (December 1 to January 31). Dr Avela Zukiswa Mayekiso, a dermatologist at Sunward Park Hospital, reminds the public that skin cancer affects all races.
She also provided helpful insights on prevention and risks.
According to Mayekiso, South Africa has the second highest incidence of skin cancer in the world after Australia.
“Skin cancer is the rapid growth of abnormal cells within the skin as a result of unrepaired DNA damage.
“The injured cells then multiply uncontrollably to form malignant tumors, triggered by two main factors – the sun’s ultraviolet rays and the use of tanning beds.
“The main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
“Skin cancer overall incidence and prevalence has increased in past few decades – one in every three individuals diagnosed with cancer has a form of skin cancer.
“Out of the three cancers, melanoma is the least common but accounts for 80% of skin cancer deaths annually.
“Melanoma in South African men is the fourth most prevalent cancer and the fifth in women.”
Risk factors for skin cancer include:
• Tanning beds
• Sunburn
• Skin type (the less melanin the greater the risk)
• Unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB rays, especially from an early age, genetics, atypical moles and organ transplant.
Skin cancer types
Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are abnormal, uncontrolled growths that arise from the skin’s basal cells in the outermost layer of skin (epidermis).
“These cancers often develop on skin areas typically exposed to the sun (face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back).”
What causes it?
Most BCCs are caused by the combination of intermittent, intense exposure and cumulative, long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun.
Prognosis BCCs can be locally destructive if not detected and treated early. Occasionally these cancers metastasize (spread); and in very rare instances they can be fatal.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising from the squamous cells in the outmost layer of skin (epidermis).
Meanwhile, location SCCs are common on sun-exposed areas such as the ears, face, scalp, neck and hands. These are places where the skin often reveals signs of sun damage, including wrinkles and age spots.
What causes it? Cumulative, long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds causes most SCCs.
Prognosis SCCs can sometimes grow rapidly and metastasize if not detected and treated early.
Melanoma: Melanoma is a cancer that develops from melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin pigment and give one’s skin colour.
Location melanomas can appear on any part of the body, even in areas of no sun exposure.
What causes it? Melanoma is often triggered by tense, intermittent sun exposure that leads to sunburn. It is also highly dependent on genetics.
Prognosis This is the most dangerous of the three cancers. If caught early it can be treated but can be deadly if attended too late.
Prevention
Fortunately, skin cancer if caught early can be treated by a dermatologist. Regular check-ups can aid in the detection of precancerous stages before they are fully developed cancers or spread beneath the skin surface.
Examine your skin every month head to toe (looking for any changes – ABCDE rule (asymmetry, border, colour, diameter and evolving).
Visit a Dermatologist at least once a year for a professional examination. Adherence to medical treatment and follow up once diagnosed to prevent future spread or new lesions developing.
Smart sun tips:
• Seek shade, especially between 10:00 and 16:00.
• Wear a wide brim hat, long sleeve tops and sunglasses.
• Use sunscreen (broad spectrum and SPF30 or higher).
• Use window film and glass to reduce UV ray penetration (home, car and workplace).
• Don’t get sunburned (five or more sunburns double your risk for melanoma).
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
FAQs:
Does a sunscreen with a high SPF (sun protection factor) protect skin better than one with a lower SPF?
Sun damage to skin is caused by ultraviolet light which is invisible to humans, because it has shorter wavelengths than the light we can see.
In the UV light spectrum, there are two types of sun rays that can damage the DNA in your skin cells and lead to skin cancer.
It’s important to protect your skin from both types.
Sun protection factor means the amount of time UV radiation would take to make your skin burn than if you were not applying sunscreen (as directed by the manufacturer).
It would take 30 times longer if you’re using an SPF30 sunscreen versus no sunscreen.
UVB light causes sunburn and plays an important role in developing cancer.
A sunscreen’s number relates to the amount and duration of protection it provides. The higher the longer the duration, but remember it is never a 100% protective.
UVA light causes skin damage that leads to aging, wrinkling and tanning. The shortest wavelengths of UVA lead to sunburn.
When looking for a sunscreen it is important to ensure that it is “broad spectrum” to protect against UVA and UVB.
So a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 50 will allow a longer time in the sun than an SPF 30.
Remember though depend on the amount heat, humidity and sweating, sunscreens evaporate and should be reapplied every two hours.
What is the meaning of water resistance on a sunscreen label?
This refers to the recommended intervals that a sunscreen needs to be reapplied when in water.
The standard recommendations ranges from between 40 minutes to 80 minutes.
This will also vary between different water activities.
There is no waterproof sunscreen.
Also Read: Add sun protection to their school bag