Many people have experienced a sunburn in their life, whether it’s on a beach forgetting to reapply sunscreen, or falling asleep by the pool. The after effects of too much sun exposure include red, hot, or even blistering skin – are all too well-known.

Did you know a single blistering sunburn before the age of 20 increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life? According to the Melanoma Network of Canada, melanoma is one of the most common cancer types found in young adults aged 15-29 and 30-49.

Malignant melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. The most common causes or risks of getting malignant melanoma include chronic sun exposure, skin pigmentation and tanning ability, and patients with several pigmented nevi (moles).

At the highest risk are those with light skin pigmentation, red or blond hair, freckling, and patients that always burn and never tan.

Taking a few extra steps before being exposed to the sun can go a long way.

Top sun tips

  1. Identification of individuals at high risk for malignant melanoma
  2. Protection against acute sun exposure resulting in sunburns – Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Non-compliance is common with sunscreen due to the cosmetic appearance, stickiness, and smell. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is recommended, including a sun block such as zinc oxide with a minimum SPF of 30.
  3. Patient education with self-examinations of moles is key. We teach patients the ABCDE’s of melanoma:

A – Asymmetry – melanoma is often asymmetric

B – Border – irregular boarders

C – Color – more than one shade of color

D – Diameter – >6mm

E – Evolution – change over time in either size, shape, or color

About the Melanoma Clinic

The Melanoma Clinic at MSH opened in 2019. It brings together surgical, diagnostic, and oncology expertise with the aim to reduce wait times for analyzing skin lesions and treatment of melanoma by improving access to specialists and surgeons. The clinic provides patients the opportunity to see many specialists at one time. This allows the multidisciplinary clinical team to develop a specific and timely treatment plan for each patient.

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This article appeared in the July 2022 issue of The Link. To receive Oak Valley Health’s community newsletter, subscribe now.