While sunlight has many benefits (vitamin D and mood-boosting, etc.), early summer brings the opportunity to talk about skin cancer screening (with less sunlight); learn about how skin cancer presents differently based on skin tone; and some tips on treating the most serious skin cancers Promising new research in melanoma.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States—one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. (like cell carcinoma) does not spread to other parts of the body and can usually be removed with minimally invasive surgery. However, melanoma can spread to other parts of the body, so early detection is necessary to minimize the risk of the disease.
How often should I get checked for skin cancer?
The U.S. Preventive Task Force, which makes recommendations for preventive health care or cancer screenings, said there is “insufficient” evidence to recommend or not recommend that primary care doctors perform visual screening for teens and adults who don’t have any symptoms of skin cancer. But as the American Academy of Dermatology points out, this is not a statement about the value of a dermatologist skin exam—people with a history of skin cancer or who notice spots on their skin should see a dermatologist for a professional examination. Everyone is encouraged to check their skin regularly by following the steps below.
In terms of timing, late summer might be a good time to get a skin check — waiting until your summer tan starts to fade may make it easier to spot potentially problematic blemishes, according to a report in the Austin American-Statesman .
You should also get a skin exam if you suspect a mole or freckle.
Warning signs are blemishes that have recently changed in appearance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remember these “ABCDE” signs that a blemish, mole or freckle needs medical attention because it could be melanoma:
- ASymmetry (one part of the defect looks different than another part).
- SecondOrder (it has a jagged or irregular outline).
- CColor (uneven color).
- Ddiameter (larger than a pea).
- SecondRotate (change its size, shape, or color over time).
Melanoma is considered the most serious form of skin cancer because of its ability to spread, but other rare types of skin cancer can also spread, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. These include sebaceous gland carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma.
Is there a skin cancer vaccine?
According to news released last summer, a skin cancer vaccine is currently in development and has so far been shown to reduce the risk of melanoma coming back compared to traditional treatments alone. Moderna and Merck’s mRNA vaccines were shown to be effective in reducing the risk of death and remission of melanoma by 44% when used with traditional melanoma immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) compared to immunotherapy alone.
Positive results from the Phase 2b trial were released in spring 2023, and late-stage clinical trials of the vaccine were due to begin last year. While this means we may still be several years away from FDA approval, the results of the mRNA skin cancer vaccine could open the way not only to treatments for skin cancer, but potentially other types of treatments as well. .
“Although there have been many different clinical trials of cancer vaccines, there has actually been no cancer vaccine that has clearly shown reproducible clinical benefit,” Weber told CNET in 2023.
Skin cancer may be less common in people with darker skin tones, but risk is greater
People of black, Hispanic or Asian descent are much less likely to develop skin cancer, including melanoma, than white people. This is because darker skin tones contain more melanin, which helps protect the skin from UV rays, the most common cause of skin cancer.
But that doesn’t mean dark skin is without risk. In fact, people with darker skin tones have higher rates of melanoma on different parts of the body, such as the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, the soles of the feet, etc. Weber said these types of cancer have “different molecular mechanisms,” so they are not related to sunlight or UV exposure.
These less common types of melanoma may also be more likely to slip through doctors’ radars, resulting in delayed or missed diagnoses in people with dark skin than in people with light skin. According to The Washington Post, a study published this summer found that black people have a higher risk of dying from melanoma than white people (a 26 percent increase). That’s based on a 2019 CDC report that found melanoma survival rates for Black Americans “lag behind” those of white Americans, despite fewer cases overall. In the same report, the CDC called on health care providers and patients to increase awareness of acral lentigo melanoma, a cancer of the feet and palms.
How to reduce your risk of skin cancer
To minimize your risk of melanoma and other types of skin cancer, you should protect yourself from UV rays—more than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, according to the Illinois Department of Health. To do this, use sunscreen, or consider wearing a hat and other breathable clothing when outdoors.
You probably know this by now, but it bears repeating: Don’t use indoor tanning beds.
In addition to making an appointment with a dermatologist to check your skin, you should monitor your skin at home if you spend a lot of time in the sun, have suspicious blemishes, or think it’s best to get checked out. There are even apps that can help you search.
read more: Sun damage and its potential lasting effects on skin. what you need to know
