Shop
Pay BillSkin Cancer Causes – Are you putting yourself at risk?
You’d never intentionally do anything that could cause skin cancer, right? Actually, that question may not be as easy to answer as you think, especially when we consider that some people with a history of skin cancer still use tanning beds.
Of course, in order to avoid risky behaviors, you first have to know what those behaviors are. Here are some questions to consider when you’re assessing your risk of developing skin cancer.
Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer
Indoor tanning seems to be a growing trend among young adults, especially women. A recent study found that around 30% of white women aged 18 to 25 use indoor tanning, visiting tanning beds an average of 28 times in one year. Unfortunately, there’s a strong link between indoor tanning and skin cancer due to the damaging UV rays inherent in tanning beds. In fact, using tanning beds is one of the top risk factors associated with melanoma: the deadliest type of skin cancer.
Even if you only visit a tanning bed once in your life, you’re still increasing your risk of melanoma by about 20%, and you’re increasing your risk of squamous cell carcinoma (another type of skin cancer) by 67%. Furthermore, if you start tanning at a young age, you’re much more likely to develop skin cancer later in life.
One reason some people keep tanning even after receiving a skin cancer diagnosis may be that indoor tanning is addictive. Much like the good feeling you get from being out in the sun, indoor tanning releases endorphins that make you feel happy, and everyone likes that healthy glow they get from tanning.
When you weigh the risks, though, you’ll probably find that no “healthy glow†is worth getting skin cancer over.
Smoking and Skin Cancer
You may be aware that smoking increases your risk of lung cancer, but you probably don’t associate smoking with cancer of the skin. Nevertheless, a habit of smoking can increase your risk of developing squamous cell cancer by 52%. And you don’t have to be a heavy smoker, either: just a few cigarettes a day will do it.
Scientists think this is because tobacco damages the immune system, and when your immune system is weakened, it’s easier for skin cancer to develop.
Sunburns and Skin Cancer
The trouble comes when you spend long hours lying out on the beach trying to get tan, using minimal sunscreen (or none at all) and skipping protective gear like hats and sunglasses. Both indoor and outdoor tanning expose your body to harmful UV rays, which damage the skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
And you don’t have to be at a beach – nor do you have to be getting tan – to expose your body to damaging UV rays. Any time you’re out in the sun without adequate protection, you’re taking a risk you may regret down the road. Even one severe sunburn can lead to skin cancer later on, which is why you can never be too careful when soaking up sun.
Additionally, if you enjoy chasing the sun around the globe or if you live in a place with strong sunlight – like Arizona or Australia – you’ll want to be hyper aware about using sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses when you go outside. Australia actually has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, because the sun’s UV rays are so strong in the land down under.
For many people, skin cancer is highly preventable. And when detected early, it’s highly treatable as well. So if you’ve engaged in risky behaviors in the past, there’s no need to despair. Just be self-aware, check regularly for signs of skin cancer, and minimize those risky behaviors in the future.
