No Healthy Tans
Most people love sunny, warm days, when they can get outside for fun and soak up the sun. But sun is one good thing you can have too much of – and not even know you’ve had too much until much later, when, like 60,000 Canadians every year, you’re diagnosed with skin cancer. Fortunately, 19 out of 20 cases of skin cancer diagnosed are less aggressive forms called basal cell or squamous cell cancers, which are fairly easy to treat. But 5% are melanoma, a more serious form.
No such thing as a healthy tan
There is a common myth that if a person tans well, they’re protected from these harmful rays. Not true! While it is true that fair-haired, blue-eyed people are most prone to burning, and therefore are more
susceptible to the sun’s rays, even “healthy” tans are really just damage control – they’re your body’s way of trying to protect itself from the sun. But the damage is already done and can’t be reversed.
Years of sun worshipping, be it outside or in a tanning salon, will eventually show up later on in life as wrinkles, poor skin elasticity, and possibly skin cancer.
It’s important to know your skin and the signs of skin cancer. If you notice any unusual moles or marks on your skin, watch them closely.
The most common skin cancers (basal and squamous cell) can look like a small, skin-coloured or red knob. The more dangerous melanoma usually begins as a mole that seems to change colour or size. What are the signs that tell you to have a doctor look at a mole? Just remember ABCD:
- Asymmetry: The mole is not round.
- Border: The border is irregular with jagged edges, not smooth.
- Colour: The colour can be uneven across the mole, it can change, or it may seem very different from the other moles on your body.
- Diameter: Cancerous moles are usually larger than 6Â mm (the size of a pea or a pencil eraser).
