Sun Men and Health

Tans, Sunshine and Skin Cancer
Sunshine makes us feel good. Most of us like a tan as it makes us look good and more healthy. One problem is that sunlight makes our skin age quicker. The UV (ultraviolet) light of sunshine may give us the vitamin D we need that can reduce the risk of brittle bones and some cancers, but the sun is also considered to be one of the major causes of skin cancer.

Each year more men than women die from skin cancer. The problem is men ignore skin changes and moles more than women. Here are some facts about skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Statistics

The American Academy of Dermatology (2006) estimates that 1 million Americans will develop skin cancer this year

1 in 5 Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime

World-wide the incidence of melanoma is nearly doubling every 10-20 years in countries with white populations

An estimated 10,710 people will die of skin cancer. 7,910 from melanoma and 2,800 from other skin cancers

A person's risk of skin cancer doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns

The American Cancer Society estimates that in the USA (2006) there will be 62,190 new cases of melanoma

In the UK 1,777 people, 1,002 men, die from melanoma each year

Older Caucasian males have the highest mortality rates from melanoma.

There are a number of different types of skin cancer. There are 2 classes - nonmelanoma skin cancers and melanoma. The skin cancer types are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Freckles and Skin Damage
Freckles, more common in people with fair complexions, are always darker than their surrounding skin as they are deposits of a dark pigment called melanin. Freckles can be red, yellow, tan, light-brown, brown, or black.
Are freckles a sign of skin damage? Well, yes they are. Freckles are a warning sign that your skin does not like the sun light. The best way of preventing sun damage is to apply high factor sunscreens and to wear a hat.

Sun Damage is Not Reversible
The bad news is sun damage is not reversible. If you have spent a lot of time tanning in the sun or have not used protective clothing or sunscreens in the past there is nothing you can do about the skin damage you already have. The only thing you can do is be responsive to skin changes and seek advice on freckles and moles that change shape and/or color. The American Academy of Dermatology has warned that there is an unrecognized epidemic of skin cancer in the United States.

Skin color, Racial Groups and Skin Cancer
People of color have increased melanin in their skin. That protects them from the damaging effects of sunlight and so the numbers of people who are diagnosed with skin cancer are fewer.
Melanoma is diagnosed more often in whites than in African Americans. A study in the Journal of Surgical Oncology (Vol. 78, No. 1: 10 – 16) showed that when African Americans develop the disease they have higher mortality rates. Melanoma is often diagnosed late in nonwhites.African Americans have a 45% survival rate at five years compared to 69% in whites. In African Americans lesions show up on the extremities, especially the soles of feet or palms of the hands. What is important about this is that melanoma's therefore are not the result of sun exposure.

How Successful are Skin Cancer Treatments?
Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have over a 95% five-year cure rate if detected and treated early. Melanoma's, if they are treated before becoming invasive, also have a 95% cure rate. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer.

The key to successful treatment is early detection. If you notice changes in your skin, a mole develops or changes shape or looks different, then see your doctor. Do not ignore it and hope it goes away. That could be deadly.

Article Sources: Journal of Surgical Oncology (Vol. 78, No. 1: 10 – 16), The American Academy of Dermatology
American Cancer Society
National Institutes of Health
Ethnic Skin: A Spectrum of Issues Barbara A. Burrall, MD