Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, with over 1 million cases diagnosed each year. One in five Americans will develop skin caner in their lifetimes. The two most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common, with about 1 million cases diagnosed annually. Basal cell carcinoma is rarely fatal but can be disfiguring. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 250,000 new cases and 2,500 deaths each year. About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV light from the sun.

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, accounting for only about 3% of all skin cancer cases but more than 75% of all skin-cancer-related deaths. Melanoma is increasing faster than almost any other form of cancer. Death from melanoma has more than doubled since 1950. More than 20 Americans die each day from skin cancer, most of them from melanoma. About 65% of melanoma cases can be attributed to UV light exposure. The majority of new cases of melanoma are in white men over the age of 50.

Although white men are at greater risk of developing melanoma, African Americans are at greater risk of dying from the disease because they usually have more advanced disease when they are diagnosed.

Sunburn greatly increases the risk of all skin cancers. One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles the risk of melanoma in a person's life. More than 5 sunburns at any age also doubles the risk of melanoma. Indoor tanning also greatly increases the risk of skin cancer. New high-pressure sunlamps can emit almost 12 times the dose of UV radiation as the sun. Exposure to tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75%. Despite this, 71% of tanning salon patrons are women between the ages of 16 and 29. People who use tanning beds are also 2.5 times as likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times as likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.

The Skin Cancer Foundations prevention tips include: Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its highest. Do not burn. Avoid tanning booths. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher every day. Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to the entire body 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Keep newborns out of the sun and use sunscreen on children over 6 months old. Examine your skin head to toe every month. See your physician annually for a professional skin exam.

Sunscreens have chemical agents that keep UV radiation from reaching the skin. The sun protection factor (SPF) is a theoretical measure of the amount of time that it takes your skin to burn. An SPF of 15 indicates that it will take 15 times as long to sunburn. UV radiation is comprised of 2 types of radiation, UVA and UVB. UVB is most responsible for sunburn while UVA is more penetrating and most responsible for the aging effects of the sun such as sagging, wrinkling, and leathering. Both are involved in the formation of cancer. Clothing is rated by its UPF or ultraviolet light protection factor. A fabric with a UPF of 50 allows only 1/50th of sun's rays to pass through. Many clothes are now labeled as sun protective which means that they have a UPF of 15 or higher. To receive the Skin Cancer Foundation's seal of recommendation, clothing must have a UPF of 30 or higher.

Reference: http://www.skincancer.org/content/view/317/73/.

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