Prevention of Skin Cancer

Back in days, when we were kids our parents and siblings took us outside to play, be it rain or shine. This made us tough, kept us in good physical condition and helped beat infections with our strong immune system. Now the situation is quite the opposite. For one, kids are glued to moving screens or indoor games and hardly go out to play. Two, adults are asked to exercise caution and use sunscreen lotions when we have to go out in the sun! Why on earth should we be worried about putting ourselves at risk when we are exposed to sunlight for long hours now?

It’s because humankind has made a hole in the ozone layer due to excessive industrialization and the harmful ultraviolet rays that come through, is harmful for the skin. By “putting ourselves at risk”, I mean that prolonged sun exposure can possibly lead to skin cancer. The UV rays from the sun can damage the skin cells leading to cancer. It is practically impossible, to stay away from the sun all the time, but there are some precautionary steps that can be taken to ensure that we don’t get affected by skin cancer.

Most of us know that using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and keeping away from sun can be some of the best ways to keep away the dreaded skin cancer at bay.

Most vehicles have windows that deflect the UV rays, both UVA (long- wave) and UVB (short-wave), but in certain cases they deflect back only UVB rays, which might put us at cancer risk. It is advisable to check with the car technician, about glasses fitted in the vehicle and change them to more suitable ones if needed. This might be difficult in places like Chennai where there is a bad on dark sunshields on private vehicles to prevent criminal activities.

There are studies which reveal the importance of the intake of coffee, which can serve as a precautionary measure against the possibility of getting affected by skin cancer. Caffeine plays a significant role in blocking the DNA synthesis and cell division that can potentially lead to skin cancer development. Nothing is conclusive though, so don’t drink gallons of coffee and stand out in the sun all day, thinking you can beat skin cancer.

The only thing you can definitely do is eat healthy, stay fit and develop a strong immune system to ward off any health issue. Also, if the immune system is weak, then it will be quite difficult to kill cancer or the tumor cells even in the early stages.

Applying sunscreen, even during cloudy rainy days will be beneficial, because the sun is hiding, but it is still there; it is advisable to apply sunscreen on all exposed skin surface. Choose a sunscreen that can block out the effects of both UVA and UBA rays.

Try making a fashion statement by bringing out the shades and wearing a wide-brimmed hat and try wearing long sleeves. You might look ridiculous in an ever sunny place like Chennai, but you can still set a style trend in safety measures.

Ensure that you take care of your skin and look out for any new moles on your skin. If you see anything creep up, please consult you dermatologist for further advice.