Whether it's biking, playing softball, or going to fairs and festivals, we tend to pack a lot of outdoor time into our precious summer season. All of that fun in the sun could lead to permanent skin damage or even skin cancer unless you’re smart.

“You don’t have to hide under trees and awnings if you’re going to go outside,” says Melanie Zahner, MD, Dermatologist on staff at Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospitals. “Your goal is to do the things you love to do in the summer—gardening, biking, running—while avoiding a sunburn.”

Her brother, Scott Zahner, MD, Dermatologist on staff at Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospitals agrees and adds, “That’s why being diligent about using sunscreen every day is so important.” Tans, which prematurely age skin, can be dangerous too because tanning damages your skin’s cells.

Skin cancer is “absolutely preventable”
There are three types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal and squamous cell cancers are undoubtedly caused by the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays. Though researchers are exploring the possibility that melanoma might be genetic, the sun most likely plays a role. 

“Skin cancer is absolutely preventable with protection from UV exposure,” says Dr. Scott Zahner. That means wearing sunscreen even when it’s overcast. “UV rays will still come through the clouds and haze. Don’t let your guard down just because you can’t see the sun.”

Skin cancer is colorblind
Living in the Midwest or having darker skin doesn’t make you less prone to developing skin cancer. In fact, the Zahners say these are two misconceptions that lull people into a false sense of security regarding their risk for skin cancer. That means skin cancer could go undetected until it has advanced to a more aggressive stage.

The Zahners suggest following these simple guidelines:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Always wear sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher
• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, or more often if you are swimming or playing sports
• Take breaks in shady areas when you can
• Wear tight-weave, loose fitting clothing in light colors
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat

Skin cancer commonly starts with moles
You may have heard the ABCD method for detecting cancer in suspicious moles:

• Asymmetry
• Border irregularity
• Color disparity
• Diameter greater than 6 mm

While a useful guide, the Zahners stress that you should look for any change in your freckles or moles, even if it doesn’t fall under the traditional ABCD guidelines.

“See your doctor if your skin itches, bleeds, hurts, or does anything out of the ordinary for your body,” says Dr. Melanie Zahner.

During your skin exam, your doctor will look for possible cancerous growths from head to toe. If something seems concerning, the mole can be removed in the office using local anesthesia and a tiny scalpel. The sample is sent to a lab to determine whether it is cancerous.

Micrographic surgery digs deep, leaves few scars
Surgery is the most common form of treatment when skin cancer is detected. Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized method of removing basal and squamous cell tumors. Performed in your doctor’s office, the procedure involves a small incision to remove the tissue.

The refined procedure allows doctors to look at the tissue sample’s edges. If the edges are cancerous more tissue will be removed until they have a sample with non-cancerous edges. The precise Mohs method helps doctors conserve the amount of tissue removed and gives them the best cosmetic results and higher cure rates.

For those who are not good surgical candidates, or for those who do not want a mole removed, radiation therapy is another option; topical chemotherapy creams can sometimes be used for basal cell carcinoma.

Reversing the damage
If you grew up playing outside before using sunscreen was routine, the damage to your skin may already be done. But, there are some ways to reverse sun damage and prevent it from getting worse.

Using a facial moisturizer with built-in SPF as part of your daily routine is an easy and inexpensive way to prevent further sun damage. Creams derived from retinoids or that have vitamin A, vitamin C or antioxidants can also be effective.

“You won’t see an immediate effect,” explains Dr. Melanie Zahner, “but if you find a product you like and keep up with it, the idea is that in five years your skin will be better than if you didn’t use any protection at all.”

Call 866-533-7968 to find a physician today.