In the United States, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined. In fact, one in five people by the age of 70 will hear their doctor say, “You have skin cancer.” patient.
But some things we do can significantly increase our risk of being diagnosed with the disease. So how do we stay as safe as possible, and what are the things that those who have treated thousands of skin cancer patients would never do?
These are the questions we ask Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost’s Am I Doing Wrong? Podcast – Made in memory of Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist and surgeon at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, when he stopped by our studio to teach us how to prevent skin cancer.
Press play to listen to the full episode:
Rossi says tanning is “number one.” One thing he would never do – especially use a tanning bed.
“If you’re doing artificial tanning, that’s a huge no-no.”
Sunbed bulbs are not regulated, which means there is no way to know the exact intensity of UVA rays we are exposed to or how much damage they cause.
“The UVA dose is really high and it darkens your pigment instantly and tans you very quickly – it’s like 10 minutes of shake and bake,” he said. “Even a single tan can put you at risk, and if you get burned, that’s even worse.”
Rossi warns that we should also avoid outdoor tanning.
“Every time you turn red or peel, you’ve induced DNA [damage] and mutations that your body is now trying to repair,” he explains. “Over time, you accumulate more and more mutations, so eventually your body can’t repair it and you get skin cancer.”
Essentially, it’s never a good idea to purposefully expose your skin to UVA rays, whether man-made or natural, Rossi advises, if we’re going to be outdoors (or even sitting in front of a sunny window ), we should use SPF protection.
“Sunscreen is very important… SPF 30 or above will be your baseline and then, ideally, you should apply it in the morning and then reapply every two hours if you are in a heavily sun-exposed area, It’s like exercising on the beach,” he said.
When Rosie joined us earlier this year to record an entire episode dedicated to SPF protection, he told us to use a “shot glass-sized” amount of sunscreen on your body and two finger-sized amounts on your fingers , not just on our fingertips – on our faces and necks. He also points out that we should use SPF year-round, not just in the summer and even on cloudy days.
One more thing he will never do?
Skip your annual skin check with your dermatologist.
“us [dermatologists] It’s always said, “Wear your birthday suit on your birthday,” so if that’s how you remember to strip off and see a dermatologist [an annual] Check your skin before you do it.
However, Rossi recommends that we do a full-body check-up at home at least once a month, or better yet, whenever we get the chance.
“EEvery time you get out of the shower or shower, you have an opportunity to check your skin,” he said. “It’s like looking at your back in a mirror… [and] You really want to look at the soles of your feet, the palms of your hands…if you could part your hair and look [your scalp] Also show your partner or your best friend, whoever you feel comfortable with, they should do the same.
Rossi recommends that we keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious, including new freckles, moles, or other marks on the skin, as well as old marks that change in size, shape, or color, or anything else that looks out of the ordinary.
“[Taking] It’s important to take a thorough inventory of what you own…because [knowing if something is] It’s very important to evolve or change over time,” he said.
Rosie also talks to us about a common virus that can cause skin cancer (and how to avoid it), some new cutting-edge treatments that are showing incredible promise in fighting the disease, and more.
Listen to the full episode above or listen to podcasts anywhere.
For more information about Rossi, including information about his skin care line, visit his website and follow him on Instagram.
Need help fixing something you’re doing wrong? Please email AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com and we may look into this topic in an upcoming episode.
