According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of women with skin cancer under the age of 40 has tripled since the late 1970s. This study indicated that the rate of basal call and squamous cell skin cancer rose from 13 to 32 cases per 100,000 women under the age of 40 from the late 1970s to 2003. These cancers are both associated with exposure to the sun.
Like smoking, sun tanning has been connected to images of the young and beautiful, yet can have seriously adverse health effects. People of all ages and skin types are developing skin cancer with greater frequency than ever before.
A dermatologist at the USC Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, Dr. David Pang, says that he has also seen an increase in these types of skin cancers among younger women. “I’m finding an increasing number of patients who are in their late teens and early 20s who are developing melanomas and other kinds of skin cancers. The patients that I have seen have without exception reported use of tanning beds or regular sun bathing,” says a concerned Dr. Pang.
Experts recommend that women of all ages take every precaution to avoid deleterious exposure to the sun and other UV sources. Sunless tanning products are often a safer alternative to the real thing. Streaking used to be a major drawback to these products; however, newer preparations have eliminated this unwanted effect. Sunless tanning products, like Mystic Tan, deliver an evenly distributed tan in a matter of days.
Dermatologists and other skin experts recommend that people use sunscreen and/or sunblock when going into the sun. Dr. Pang states that people should look for both the SPF level and the active ingredients of a sun protecting product. Many people only look at the SPF, but do not recognize the importance of active ingredients in sun protection. Experts recommend looking for skin products containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which act as excellent physical barriers against harmful UV rays.
Avoiding the sun when it is strongest, usually during the hours between 10AM and 2PM (though it can vary by location), is also a good precaution against skin cancer.
Skin protection should be a lifelong priority in protecting oneself from skin cancer. In addition to protecting oneself from skin cancer, skin protection also delays the signs of aging, helping a woman retain her youthful looking skin longer. To learn more about a good skin regiment, you may wish to contact your dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon in your area.