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Melanoma a Big Threat to Older Men
Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, May 18 – Older men have an increased risk of developing melanoma, but most are careless about sun protection and do not know how to properly check themselves for signs of skin cancer, a new survey reveals. This is particularly worrisome because nearly 132,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2012, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, which conducted the online poll. "This survey demonstrates that many men do not protect themselves from the sun when outdoors and that some still believe that sun exposure is good for their health. This is a very troubling combination in light of the fact that the major risk factor for melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet light," dermatologist Dr. Thomas Rohrer, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine, said in an academy news release. Just 29 percent of men report always protecting ... Read more
Related support groups: Melanoma, Sunscreen, Deeptan, Coppertone
Early Study Hints at Link Between Certain Sunscreens, Endometriosis
Posted 11 days ago by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, May 17 – A preliminary study links chemicals found in certain sunscreens to a higher risk of endometriosis, but it's too soon to say whether there's any reason for women to change their habits. "This is way too early for prime time," said Warren Foster, a professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, who studies how chemicals affect people. In endometriosis, tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the womb, leading to pain and infertility in some cases. Foster said the causes of this common condition are fuzzy, and "nothing is proven as far as chemicals are concerned." Even if the chemicals do boost the risk of endometriosis, the findings don't specify how many more women might get the disease. Dermatologists consider sunscreen crucial in the prevention of skin cancer. Still, the study authors write that their ... Read more
Related support groups: Endometriosis, Sunscreen, Deeptan, Coppertone
Aim Skin Cancer Warnings at the Young, Too, Experts Say
Posted 7 May 2012 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 7 – Doctors should take the time to counsel children, teens and young adults on the dangers of sun exposure and tanning beds, according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. But rather than focus on skin cancer, discussions with young patients should center on how ultraviolet-ray exposure can damage the way their skin looks, the task force advised. "We are not saying to young people to avoid sun exposure and indoor tanning to prevent skin cancer, because that message doesn't work," said Dr. Virginia Moyer, USPSTF chair and a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "That is the goal, but the message that works is to use appearance-based counseling," she said. Because most research so far is based on people with fair skin – who are at the greatest risk of skin cancer – these new recommendations apply only to them, the ... Read more
Related support groups: Skin Cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunscreen, Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma - Metastatic, Deeptan, Coppertone
Doctors Urge Routine Skin Screenings
Posted 6 May 2012 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, May 6 – Adults and children should be screened routinely for changes in the appearance of their skin, experts advise. Mount Sinai Medical Center researchers point out that regular visits to the dermatologist are just as important as trips to the dentist because they can provide clues as to what's going on outside as well as inside the body. One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, the Mount Sinai doctors cautioned. Although skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, it's also one of the most preventable, they noted in a center news release. In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Melanoma Day on Monday, May 7, the experts offered the following advice on skin cancer prevention: Wear sunblock. Almost half of all UV exposure occurs between the ages of 19 and 40 years. Sunblock should be applied to the body, around the ... Read more
Related support groups: Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Deeptan, Coppertone
Only 1 in 4 Young Teens Uses Sunscreen Regularly, Study Finds
Posted 23 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Jan. 23 – Despite the fact that sunburn in childhood greatly raises a person's lifelong risk for skin cancer, just 25 percent of 14-year-olds in a new U.S. study said they used sunscreen regularly. What's more, behaviors linked to risky sun exposure increased as kids got older, with older teens reporting more time in the sun and less use of sunscreen than when they were young. In the study, published in the February issue of Pediatrics, researchers led by Dr. Stephen Dusza of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in New York City, examined data on 360 fifth graders in Massachusetts who were surveyed in 2004 and again three years later in 2007. Looking at changes in sun-protective behaviors over that period of time, the team found that more than half (53 percent) of the youngsters had already suffered at least one sunburn by the age of 11 and that that rate of sunburn remained ... Read more
Related support groups: Sunburn, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Coppertone
Skin Reacts to UV Light Faster Than Thought, Study Finds
Posted 3 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Nov. 3 – An ultraviolet receptor in the skin immediately senses and responds to UV light in order to protect against UV damage, researchers have found. So, the tanning response in the skin occurs much more quickly than was previously known, the investigators noted in the study published in the Nov. 3 online edition of the journal Current Biology. The discovery of this rapid biological response could lead to the development of new types of sunscreens, according to Elena Oancea and colleagues at Brown University. The researchers found that exposure to UVA light causes pigment-producing cells in the skin to create melanin pigment in a process that involves calcium release. This response relies on rhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein that's also found in the eye's retina. UVA light accounts for about 95 percent of the UV radiation on the Earth's surface, while UVB light makes up ... Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone
Cancer Patients May Be at Greater Risk for Sun Damage
Posted 2 Aug 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Aug. 2 – During the summer, cancer patients are at greater risk for sun damage and need to be extra vigilant about sun safety, researchers say. "Cancer patients may be more at risk for sun damage because of their treatment," said Dr. Elizabeth Kvale, director of outpatient supportive care and survivorship in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in a university news release. "Skin that has been treated with radiation therapy may lose some of its natural protective capacity because of the changes that occur with treatment," she said. "Radiation-exposed skin should be completely protected from sun exposure." In order to protect their skin from the sun's harmful rays, the UAB experts recommend that cancer patients follow some basic sun-protection guidelines during hot weather, including: Apply sunscreen Wear protective clothing Cover surgical ... Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone
U.S. Culture Linked to Greater Sunscreen Use Among Latinos
Posted 22 Jul 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, July 22 – As melanoma rates have jumped nearly 29 percent among U.S. Latinos since 1992, their adoption of American cultural beliefs is associated with more sunscreen use, but not sun-protective clothing, new research finds. "Acculturated Latinos might have increased exposure to sun safety information via health-care access, education and expanded social networks, but display decreased engagement in some sun-safe behaviors," the study authors wrote. In conducting the study, published in the July issue of the Archives of Dermatology, researchers analyzed survey data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute and questioned 496 Latinos about sun-safe behavior, such as their use of sunscreen and whether or not they wore long-sleeved shirts and long pants or took shade for at least one hour when outside on sunny days. Researchers also asked them about their health-care access, ... Read more
Related support groups: Melanoma, Sunscreen, Coppertone
Flip-Flops, Baseball Caps May Raise Risk of Skin Cancer
Posted 13 Jul 2011 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, July 13 – Wearing flip-flops and baseball caps can increase your risk of skin cancer, an expert warns. "Most skin cancers occur on the parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun," Dr. Rebecca Tung, director of the dermatology division at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., said in a Loyola news release. "The problem with flip-flops and baseball caps is that they leave the tips of the ears and the tops of the feet dangerously exposed to sun damage. The potential for skin cancers in those areas are real, especially on the tips of the ears," she explained. Before flip-flops and baseball caps became so popular, people generally wore broad-brimmed hats and sneakers or shoes that protected the tips of their ears and the tops of their feet. "But now those areas of the body have very little protection," Tung said. "Combine that with the fact that most ... Read more
Related support groups: Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Coppertone
Health Tip: Lather Kids With Sunscreen
Posted 1 Jul 2011 by Drugs.com
-- Kids love to play outside during the hot summer months, so parents must not forget to protect them from sunburn. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions: Apply sunscreen all over the child's face and body, and remember to reapply every two hours, or after the child gets wet. Make sure sunscreen is at least SPF 15 and offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply it even on cloudy days. Dress your child in lightweight cotton clothing that covers the legs and arms, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that offer UVA and UVB protection. Encourage your child to play and rest in the shade when the sun's rays are strongest – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be aware that spending time in or near the water usually increases the risk of sunburn from the water's reflection. Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone
FDA Issues New Rules on Sunscreens
Posted 14 Jun 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 14 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it will require new labeling for sunscreens to identify products that are best for reducing the risk of skin cancer, early skin aging and helping to prevent sunburn. Under the new rule, sunscreens that protect against both ultraviolet A rays (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can be labeled "Broad Spectrum." UVB rays and UVA rays both can cause sunburn, skin cancer, and premature skin aging; UVB rays are the main source of sunburn, FDA officials explained. The new rules will also require sunscreens to have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more or they won't be able to claim that they help prevent sunburn and possibly reduce the threat of premature skin aging and skin cancer – if used with other measures to protect against the sun. "Sunscreens that meet the new test for Broad Spectrum protection and are also ... Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone
Health Tip: Apply Sunscreen Properly
Posted 1 May 2011 by Drugs.com
-- Sunscreen helps protect your skin from sunburn and damage, but it must be applied properly. The Skin Cancer Foundation offers these guidelines: Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Apply sunscreen to children's skin, as long as they are at least 6 months old. Children younger than 6 months should not be exposed to the sun. Make sure you choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, Use about 1 ounce of sunscreen for good coverage. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours. Reapply sunscreen after swimming, sweating or towel drying. Be aware of how much time you spend in the sun. Your skin doesn't have to turn red to be damaged by the sun's rays. Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone
Despite Claims, Many Daily Moisturizers Don't Shield Against Sun: Study
Posted 18 Jan 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Jan. 17 – Few facial skin creams that promise "broad-spectrum" sun protection actually measure up, according to new research. Dermatologists evaluated 29 top-selling daytime moisturizers claiming to provide broad-spectrum protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays and found only a few offered reliable protection from harmful UV-A rays, which can penetrate glass. "The vast majority of the products out there don't seem to provide adequate UV-A protection," said study leader Dr. Steven Wang, director of dermatologic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, N.J. Most of the creams "don't contain the right combination of ingredients, and they don't contain the adequate concentration of ingredients," he said. The study results are reported in a letter published online Jan. 17 in Archives of Dermatology. Broad-spectrum UV coverage means the product shields ... Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone
Daily Sunscreen Use Does Protect from Melanoma, Study Finds
Posted 6 Dec 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Dec. 6 – Applying sunscreen every day to the head, neck, arms and hands reduced the chances of getting melanoma by half, a new study has found. Researchers in Australia divided more than 1,600 white adults ages 25 to 75 into two groups. One group was told to apply skin cancer daily to the head, neck, hands and arms for five years between 1992 and 1996. The other group was told to use sunscreen only as often as they wished. Researchers then kept up with the participants for the next 10 years using annual or twice-yearly questionnaires. During that period, 11 people who used sunscreen daily were diagnosed with melanoma compared to 22 people in the "discretionary" use group, though the result was of "borderline statistical significance," according to the study. Sunscreen also seemed to protect from invasive melanomas, which are harder to cure than superficial melanomas because ... Read more
Related support groups: Melanoma, Sunscreen, Coppertone
Winter Skies Still Pose Sun Danger, Experts Warn
Posted 16 Nov 2010 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Nov. 16 – Skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts need to be aware that factors such as weather conditions and time of day can cause considerable variation in the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation during the winter, researchers say. They analyzed data collected between 2001 and 2003 at 32 high-altitude ski resorts in western North America. They also interviewed adult guests at the resorts and looked at their clothing and equipment in order to assess their level of sun protection. Average UV levels at the ski resorts were moderately low but varied substantially, the researchers found. Clear skies, time close to noon, and more hours of daylight as the ski season progressed were the strongest predictors of increased UV radiation. The researchers also found minor associations between higher UV radiation and altitude, longitude and temperature. However, elevated UV levels were not ... Read more
Related support groups: Sunscreen, Coppertone