Do’s and Don’ts for Preventing Skin Cancer

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and with summer set to kick off in a few weeks, we at NY Foot Health want to take this opportunity to give our patients some important reminders and tips on preventing this disease. Consider these current skin cancer statistics:

·         1 in 5 people will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they reach the age of 70

·         Over 9,500 people receive a diagnosis of skin cancer every day.

·         More skin cancers are diagnosed annually than all other types of cancer combined.

Protecting Your Skin

Do: Examine your feet for any potential signs of skin cancer.

Skin cancer can develop anywhere on your body—including your feet. Sadly, too often, skin cancers on the feet are not detected until they are at an advanced stage because people are not expecting to find them there. You may think that your feet are not exposed to the sun much, so you don’t need to be concerned, but cancers on the feet often have other causes as well, such as viruses, chemical exposure, or chronic inflammation.

Don’t: Dismiss skin legions because they don’t hurt or itch.

Most skin cancers are painless. They do, however, often have recurrent cracking or bleeding. The bottom line is that if you notice any new moles, freckles, or lesions on your feet, or any existing ones start to change in size, color, shape, or texture, it’s essential that you get them checked by your podiatrist as soon as possible. Don’t currently have a podiatrist? You can locate one using our online directory.

Do: Take the necessary steps to avoid sunburn.

Did you know that having 5 or more sunburns over the course of your lifetime doubles your chances of developing melanoma—the deadliest kind of skin cancer? That’s why using a broad-spectrum sunscreen (protects against both UVA and UVB rays) with a minimum SPF of 15 is essential whenever your skin is exposed to the sun. This means not just on beach and pool days but even if you’re out running errands, walking the dog, or enjoying other outdoor time. For intense sun exposure, apply every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating excessively.

Don’t: Use tanning beds—ever.

There’s no way around these facts: using an indoor tanning bed even one time greatly increases your risk of developing all kinds of skin cancer. Using one before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75%.

To learn more about diseases that affect your feet, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.