Health & Fitness

Why Sunscreen Is Crucial in Preventing Skin Cancer

We asked experts what to know about melanoma symptoms, treatment and prevention.

When spring turns to summer and warm weather lures more people outside, skin cancer
may be at most a distant concern. But experts said it’s important to take the risk
seriously.
The ultraviolet rays in sunlight are a leading risk factor for skin cancer, which will affect
one in five Americans over their lifetime. That includes melanoma, among the deadliest
types. About 100,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year in the United States,
and about 8,000 die from it annually, according to the American Cancer Society.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to reduce your risk, and to detect possible cases early
while they are most curable. Therapies approved over the past 15 years have also
transformed the treatment of melanoma, extending and improving the lives of patients
even with late-stage cases.
Here’s what to know about melanoma, its treatments and how to protect yourself.

What is melanoma?

Melanoma is a cancer that typically starts in skin cells known as melanocytes that make
the skin’s pigment. Compared with more common skin cancers that begin in squamous or
basal cells, melanoma is more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
“It truly has a very aggressive behavior and biology behind it,” said Dr. Michael Davies,
chairman of the melanoma medical oncology department at the University of Texas MD
Anderson Cancer Center.
Most melanomas appear as flat or slightly elevated blotches of dark color on skin that has
been frequently exposed to ultraviolet light, such as the scalp and face, arms, back and
legs (though they can occur on areas that have never been exposed to the sun, too). In a
smaller share of cases, the growth may appear as a dark- or red-colored bump and grow
down into the skin, which can make it more difficult to detect.

Why Sunscreen Is Crucial in Preventing Skin Cancer

Why Sunscreen Is Crucial in Preventing Skin Cancer