At any point in time, any one of the skin cells on the body have the potential to turn cancerous. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in the melanocytes, which are the cells that create skin pigmentation. Melanoma can be aggressive and is incurable if the cancer cells have metastasized. There are ways to prevent it altogether by being aware of your skin and any changes that it goes through.
Some of the ways to prevent melanoma include the following:
1. Annual checkups
Annual visits to the dermatologist is a good, timely method of keeping track of any changes on the skin. Often, what might look like a prolonged pimple or a usual mole could turn out to be the cause for the development of melanoma. Skin cancer could appear extremely harmless if you don’t know what to look for.
2. Apply sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen and sunblock every time you step out and reapplying is important. Ditching the sunscreen is not a good idea, even when it’s cloudy – because ultraviolet radiation can still filter through the cloud cover, causing damage to the skin. Whether you go for a swim or exercise in the open or even if you go for a walk, sunscreen should be reapplied 3 times every hour. Reapplication might look non-important but when the ultraviolet index is at its highest, it could cause immense damage to the skin. Dermatologists recommend a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and both UVA and UVB protection.
3. Not indulging in sunbathing
Applying sunscreen does squat if you are willingly exposing yourself to the sun directly. Seeking that sun-kissed look and complexion can have extremely negative consequences on the skin, as the UV rays harmful to the skin cells’ DNA, damaging the skin and leading to signs of aging and subsequently, skin cancer. In case you are at the beach, keep reapplying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with at least a 30 SPF every 2–3 hours, and even more frequently if you head into the water or tend to sweat a lot. When you are at the beach, make sure you wear a hat or sit under an umbrella to avoid the sun’s rays.
4. Avoid tanning beds
Do you know what is stronger than the radiation of the sun at times? The radiation from the indoor tanning beds! That’s right. Not only can they cause skin cell mutations, but they also continue to grow into cancerous tumors. They also cause the skin to look wrinkled and swollen for years together.
5. Covering up
While the heat might tempt one to shed off one’s clothing, it is strongly recommended to keep those long-sleeved tops and bottoms on. Protective clothing with UV protection can help cover your skin from the rays of the sun. Covering up also helps avoid sunburns, which therefore reduces and prevents the damage caused by UV radiation to the skin cells. In addition, wearing sunglasses lessen the chances of developing ocular melanoma as well.
6. Follow the ABCDEs
Last but not the least, know and follow the ABCDEs of moles and tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Asymmetry
If both halves of the mole differ
- Borders
If the moles are scalloped or irregular
- Color
Check for mole colors turning (blue/red/white/black/brown/tan)
- Diameters
If they exceed the size of a pencil eraser
- Evolving
If the mole has changed since it occurred