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Even after skin cancer, many disregard the sunscreen
Strong sunlight can have dangerous consequences for our skin and even cause the development of skin cancer. Researchers now found that most people do not protect themselves enough from the sun, even if they have had skin cancer before. Basic precautions should be taken to reduce this risk. Wearing hats and sunscreen with sunscreen are effective ways to protect yourself from the sun.
Skin cancer is a serious condition that can even lead to the death of those affected. Thus one should be able to assume that people who have survived a skin cancer disease, in the future better protect from the sun. However, scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have found in their study that people generally protect themselves insufficiently from the sun, even if they have had skin cancer before. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology".
Strong sunlight on our skin can lead to cancer. Many people protect themselves insufficiently from the sun, although adequate sun protection would prevent skin cancer. Surprisingly, many people who have previously suffered skin cancer do not protect themselves properly. (Image: Dan Race / fotolia.com) Study examines the data of about 35,000 people
American researchers now analyzed the survey data from about 760 adults who had a history of skin cancer. In addition, they investigated more than 34,000 people without a prior skin cancer, say the authors. From the data, scientists were able to recognize that people with a history of skin cancer are more likely to protect themselves from the sun more than twice as often as people who have never had anything to do with skin cancer. But a pre-existing skin cancer disease does not reduce the rate of sunburn, the researchers say. However, some people are also more susceptible to sunburn than other people, explains lead author Alexander Fischer of the Baltimore Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Every hour an American dies of melanoma
One in five Americans suffers from skin cancer in their lifetime. And every hour a person dies of melanoma in America, the experts say. To assess whether the history of skin cancer changes the behavior of those affected in the sun, the doctors focused on so-called non-melanoma skin cancer (skin cancer). Of these, most are basal cell carcinomas. These can damage the deeper tissues, such as muscles and bones, but usually do not spread to other parts of the human body, the experts explain.
About 44 percent of people with a history of light skin cancer were particularly keen to stay in the shade outdoors. In comparison, only about 27 percent of people preferring to remain in the shade, those who have never previously had such tumors, add the physicians. About 26 percent of all people with a history of skin cancer wore wide-brimmed hats and about 21 percent wore long-sleeved clothes. In persons without previous tumors, wearing hats was 11 percent and wearing long-sleeved clothing was 8 percent, say the researchers.
Doctors need to better inform skin cancer patients about sunscreen
Only about 54 percent of the subjects previously suffering from skin cancer used sunscreen products. Although this value is better than in people without previous skin cancer (33 percent), but also shows that too many people are unprotected from sun damage, say the doctors. Some people still seem to believe that the sun is healthy for us and the skin cancer risk is exaggerated. Patients who previously had skin cancer, but then made more precautions to protect themselves from the sun.
Most sunburns are not caused by people sitting in the sun all day and tanning, the experts explain. Much of the sunburns in patients with skin cancer arise from moments of inattention arise, such as on the football field or during longer walks outdoors, the researchers add. When people have bad habits, they are usually very hard to change, even if there is a risk of cancer diagnosis. Doctors urgently need to educate skin cancer patients about the importance of adequate sunscreen. The development of skin cancer is a risk factor that can be fully controlled, the experts explain. (As)