How Common Is Skin Cancer in Seniors?

Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70? Worse still, more than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour, and having 5 or more sunburns in childhood doubles your risk of melanoma (Dartmouth.edu). Yikes! With only 17 percent of the US population using sunscreen every day, it’s no wonder skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer! But here’s the good news. If caught and treated early, the survival rate of nonmelanoma skin cancer is a whopping 95%!

How can I identify skin cancer?

Did you know that you can actually spot warning signs of cancer on your own body? A lot of doctors recommend doing a skin self-exam at least once a month (per Cancer.org)! This is especially important if you have a family history of skin cancer, have a lot of moles, or have had skin cancer before. After a bath or a shower, go to a well-lit room and stand in front of a full-length mirror. Make sure you also grab a hand-held mirror and maybe your spouse or a trusted friend! Then slowly, methodically, examine every part of your body, following this method recommended by Cancer.org:

1. Face the mirror: Check your face, neck, ears, chest, and stomach. Ladies will also need to check the skin underneath their breasts. And don’t forget about your underarms, your palms, those delicate areas between your fingers, and even under your fingernails. Leave no body part unturned!
2. Sit down: Now that you’ve done the first part of your self-exam, it’s time to inspect the rest of your body! Specifically, check your shins, the tops of your feet, the space between your toes, and under your toenails. Remember that hand-held mirror we told you to grab? Now is the time to use it! Flip your feet over and examine the bottom of them. Then move on to your calves and the backs of your thighs.
3. Stand up: You aren’t done yet! With your hand-held mirror still in your grasp, take a moment to examine your sensitive areas. That includes your bottom, genital area, upper and lower back, and the back of your neck and ears. You might need to enlist a little outside help for this part of the self-exam.
4. Grab a comb: Now, it’s time to check your scalp! Using a comb or a hair dryer, part your hair and thoroughly examine your scalp. As someone who used to get a lot of scalp sunburns before I learned my lesson and started a summer hat collection, your scalp isn’t immune to sunburns.

What’s the ABCDE Rule?

The Cleveland Clinic defines the ABCDEs as the five warning signs of melanoma, which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, this type of cancer typically starts on the parts of our body exposed to sunlight the most. This includes your face, arms, legs, and back. In some rare cases, it can even form in your eyes! Each letter represents a feature that might point to a cancerous mole or freckle:

• Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.
• Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, uneven, or blurred, with faded or even undefined areas.
• Color variation: Your mole might have multiple colors, including black, red, dark brown, and even white.
• Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters in diameter. That’s about the size of a pencil eraser (per the Cleveland Clinic).
• Evolving: The mole is constantly changing in size, shape, or color. At times, it might even itch or scab over.

What are the other types of skin cancer?

Melanoma is often called the “most serious skin cancer”, but it’s not the only type of skin cancer. Here are a few others that you need to look out for.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is actually the most common type of skin cancer. It usually appears in all the places most commonly exposed to the sun, like the neck, hands, legs, and arms. If you have fair skin or practically lived at the tanning salon when you were younger, you might be at risk of developing BCC. Other risk factors include your age, a family history of skin cancer, and radiation therapy. Basal cell carcinoma usually manifests as:

• A bloody sore that doesn’t heal or keeps coming back.
• Waxy bump with a pearly sheen.
• Scar-like patches without a raised edge.
• A white bump without defined edges.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma typically starts as a growth of cells on the skin, usually in areas that are exposed to UV radiation. But it can also affect other areas of the body that aren’t exposed to sunlight, like the genitals. This is more common in people with Black or brown skin. If you have fair skin that’s prone to sunburns or a weakened immune system, you might also be at risk. Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma include:

• Sores inside your mouth.
• A flat, scaly sore.
• A new sore on an old scar or sore.
• A pink, red, or brown nodule.
• A wart-like sore or raised patch in your genital area.

How can I prevent skin cancer?

I don’t know about you, but the thought of getting skin cancer has always terrified me. Fortunately, skin cancer is not only treatable in most cases but also highly preventable! So, if you want to reduce your risk for skin cancer, here are a few things you should start doing now!

1. Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

Did you know that screenscreen with SPF 15 or higher blocks 93% of UVB radiation? If you go even higher and use sunscreen with SPF 30, that number jumps up to 97%! Make sure you don’t just squeeze a tiny handful of sunscreen into your palm, dab it on your face and shoulders, and call it a day. You need to slather every area of your body that’s exposed to sunlight with sunscreen. That means your neck, ears, legs…whatever part of your body isn’t covered by your clothes! Ideally, you should also be reapplying your sunscreen every one to two hours.

2. Avoid tanning beds.

We tend to associate tans with a “healthy glow.” But in actuality, tans are a sign of skin damage (per the CDC). It should come as no surprise, then, that tanning beds are awful for your skin. In fact, tanning beds emit 12 times more radiation than the sun. Plus, they can also speed up signs of skin aging. In other words, they can deepen your wrinkles and even cause more to appear. If you want to get a tan, fake it instead. You can use self-tanner or even tinted moisturizer to achieve that beach babe aesthetic, without damaging your skin.

3. Check your skin often.

Remember, you should be doing a skin self-exam at least once a month! Set a reminder on your phone or write it down on your calendar so you won’t forget. And don’t just give yourself a quick once-over right before bed. Take your time and be thorough. If you find a weird spot or mole that you don’t remember having, call your doctor or dermatologist. When it comes to skin cancer, you can never be too careful!

4. Stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Did you know that the sun is at its strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.? This is even true during the winter! Try to limit your time outdoors during this stretch of the day. If you have to be outside, wear long sleeves, hats, or something else that covers your body. Also, the shade is your friend! But, as the EPA notes, neither trees nor canopies fully block out the sun’s rays, so don’t rely on shade alone for sun protection. Combine shade with sunscreen, a hat, and a healthy dose of caution for the healthiest results!

5. Wear sunglasses.

UV rays harm more than your skin. They can damage your eyes, too! Always choose sunglasses with UV protection, which usually display a “UV 400” sticker (per Johns Hopkins). Also, avoid sunglasses with yellow lenses and stick to ones with gray or brown lenses. And while summer might seem like the best (and only) time to wear sunglasses, the sun doesn’t hibernate during the winter! So, make sure you’re wearing shades even on those dreary winter days. Your eyes will thank you!

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