Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Think you're safe from the sun because it's cold outside? Not so fast! The UV rays here are intense year-round and unfortunately for us, Utah has some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the United States. About 60 Utahns die every year from melanoma, 25 percent higher than the national average.
"One of the facts of why we have such high rates is that a lot of Utahns come from northern European ancestry and have a lighter complexion," said Dr. Adam Taintor, a dermatologist at Alta View Hospital. "People with lighter skin have less skin pigment to protect them and are more likely to burn, more likely to have skin damage."
Taintor says that Utahns also like to be outside, whether it's mountain biking, working in the yard, or skiing--- people here are outdoor-oriented. That also increases our exposure to UV rays. And you're also not safe when it's cloudy outside-- the UV light penetrates through the cloud cover.
Another factor in our high skin cancer rates is the high altitude says Dr. Sancy Leachman, director of Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
"The intensity of UV rays is much higher here than at sea level," Dr. Leachman said. "It's an incredibly risky environment for the people who live here."
Sounds scary, but both doctors say there are many things you can do to actively prevent sun damage here in Utah.
1. Wear sunscreen every day
Even one sunburn increases your risk of getting melanoma. If you're going to be outside for more than half an hour, put on sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Make sure to use sunscreen even in the wintertime.
Dr. Leachman says to get into the habit of putting on sunscreen every day. Protect your face, even if you're just going to be driving around town. Make sure you use enough and that you reapply every two to three hours.
2. Cover up as when you're in the sun
There are many options available to help protect yourself in the sun. A hat with at least a three-inch brim, sunglasses, and clothing can all help protect against those intense UV rays. Cover up as much as you can even when it's cloudy and cold.
"My kids have sun shirts with SPF of about 50 when they go swimming," Dr. Taintor said. "It saves me from having to always reapply sunscreen."
3. Do not use tanning beds!
Embrace the paste! People now associate tan skin with health says Dr. Taintor. There are many other ways to get a healthy glow without using those machines, such as sunless tanning lotion or spray-on tans. Learn to love your natural skin tone.
Tannings beds are considered a Group 1 Carcinogen, meaning--- they have been proven to cause cancer.
"Smoking is to lung cancer as a tanning bed is to skin cancer," said Dr. Leachman. "Don't do that!"
But Dr. Leachman also says that if you've used tanning beds in the past, every little bit you do now to prevent your exposure to UV rays will increase the time you're cancer free.
"Skin cancer is an accumulative risk," said Dr. Leachman. "The more insult you give your skin, the faster you can develop cancer. Nothing we know of can reduce damage that's already been done, but you can reduce further damage now."
4. Check yourself
If you notice a new lesion or mole, get it checked by your primary care doctor or a dermatologist, says Dr. Taintor. You should not be growing any new moles after the age of 25.
Heather Jones, a mother of four from Sandy, noticed a small red dot on her nose for about a year that never went away. When she finally got it checked, the doctor discovered it was basal cell carcinoma.
"I got tons of some burns while I was growing up," Jones said. "All of the time. I was a sun lover and I was always trying to get some color other than white."
Jones also used to go to tanning beds when she was younger. She says she's glad the small red dot wasn't something worse, like melanoma. And she doesn't use those tanning beds anymore.
Dr. Taintor says to just use your ABC's when self-checking for suspicious lesions.
- A- Asymmetry: is the lesion an unusual shape?
- B- Border: does the lesion have uneven borders?
- C- Color: does the lesion have multiple colors?
- D- Diameter: is the lesion bigger than the eraser on a pencil, or noticeably bigger than other moles you have on your body?
- E- Evolution: is the lesion new or do you notice it evolving?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, get the lesion checked out.
5. Educate your children
What is the most important step in preventing skin cancer in Utah? Educating your children about the dangers of the sun, says Dr. Leachman.
"What we as a society can do is educate our children," Dr. Leachman said. "What's really important to reduce skin cancer in a high-risk environment is to teach our children to do better."
Teach your kids now to cover up and avoid sunburns. If they can get in the habit of protecting themselves from the sun now, they can help lower skin cancer rates in Utah.
Jones says that while getting skin cancer was scary, it has helped her realize how important it is to protect yourself and your kids from the sun.
"I will be so careful now with my skin, and especially my kid's skin," Jones said.
Remember to have fun outdoors this spring and summer, but try and limit your exposure to those UV rays as much as you can!
The Utah County Health Department is offering free skin cancer screenings on April 24, May 22, and June 26 from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Provo. For the latest up-to-date information about the screenings, visit their website.
