We know that the summer sun can wreak havoc on the skin. Yet that message seems lost on the demographic most likely tossing the SPF tubes aside in favor of soaking up the sun: the young and the bronzed. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—is increasing at an alarming rate in teens and young adults (one 2012 study by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research puts the rate at a hopping 400 percent). That makes melanoma the most common form of cancer in adults ages twenty-four to twenty-nine, with women in that demographic considered especially vulnerable.
Dr. Omar Ibrahimi, a dermatologist and founder of the Stamford-based Connecticut Skin Institute, notes factors elevating the statistics are the “sense of invincibility” that is the hallmark of youth, and young adults flocking to indoor tanning booths in search of a golden look. “Tanning beds give out pure unadulterated ultraviolet light which leads to DNA damage and can accelerate the rate at which cancers develop,” he explains.
“I liken [visting a tanning booth] to smoking,” says Dr. Jason McBean, a Fairfield-based dermatologist affiliated with St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. “It’s just as dangerous.”
There is some hopeful news, though. Dr. McBean says today’s parents are more vigilant about doing skin checks on their children for unusual moles and other changes that can be cancer-warning signs. Ultimately, this proactive approach leads to more reported skin cancer cases, but potentially lifesaving early interventions too, he explains.
SUN SMART FROM THE PROS
1. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Invest in an SPF factor of 30 or higher.
2. Spray sunscreens “are convenient, but half of it gets blown away,” notes Dr. McBean. “They give an artificial sense of security.”
3. When applying in lotion form, “I tell my patients they need to use an amount that would fill a shot glass to cover their bodies,” says Dr. Ibrahimi.
4. Spray tans are a great option if you crave bronzed limbs. “They are completely safe and the way to go if you want color,” says Dr. McBean.
5. Make annual skin checks with a dermatologist a healthy habit.