It’s fun to play outside in the sun, but overtime that can result in a very negative side effect. Over 3.5 million skin cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, 90% of which can be directly attributed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. To reap the sun’s benefits while protecting your health, remember these basic guidelines:
Basic Guidelines for Orange County Residents to Protect Themselves from The Dangers of Sun Exposure
- Wear protective clothing. The best options are thickly woven fabrics in either bright or dark colors.
- Wear sunglasses. Wraparound sunglasses are most effective and can help prevent both cataracts and cancers to/near the eye.
- Use sunscreen. The use of sunscreen can filter out 93 to 98 percent of UVB rays effectively.
Unfortunately, even with preventative measures, skin cancer can develop. Each skin cancer treatment recommended will be dependent upon an individual’s situation. Possible treatments include:
- Mohs micrographic surgery – Most frequently used for skin cancer removal on the face, Mohs surgery involves cutting the tumor in thin layers until cancer cells are no longer visible.
- Cryosurgery – Sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, this treatment freezes and destroys any abnormal tissue through the use of a specialized instrument.
- Curettage and desiccation – A skin cancer surgeon will remove the tumor with a sharp,spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. A thin electrode conducting an electric current is then used to halt bleeding and destroy any remaining cancer cells.
- Prescription creams – Also known as topical imiquimod therapy, this treatment uses a cream directly applied to the skin to treat smaller cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy – Using intense x-rays or other radiation types, this treatment seeks to eliminate cancer cells or hamper their growth. Radiation therapy can be either external or internal. External employs a machine outside of the body to dispatch radiation in the cancer’s direction. Internal involves a sealed radioactive substance placed into or near the cancer.
- Surgical removal – There are two types of surgical removal, simple and shave excision. Simple excision removes the tumor from the skin by cutting it and a bit of the surrounding area. A shave excision shaves off the affected area from the skin’s surface using a small blade.
Contact our OC skin cancer center to learn more about how best to protect yourself from skin cancer.