Skin cancer (squamous cell)

Staying safe in the sun

Using sunscreens is important for protecting your skin when you're out in the sun. But it's not the most important thing. There are lots of other things you should also do to protect yourself and your family when you head outdoors.

Source:
Moloney FJ, Collins S, Murphy GM.
Sunscreens: safety, efficacy and appropriate use.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2002; 3: 185-191.

Source:
Glanz K, Saraiya M, Wechsler H, et al.
Guidelines for school programs to prevent skin cancer.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2002; 51: 1-18.

You can protect yourself and your family by using sunscreens and reapplying them often.

Stay out of the sun when it's at its strongest. In hot areas, this could be as long as between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Wear a hat.
Wear long-sleeved tops and pants or a long skirt or dress.
Wear sunglasses. These will help protect your eyes and the skin around them.
Choose a sunscreen that protects against two kinds of ultraviolet light: UV-A and UV-B.
Use a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (or SPF) of 15. To learn more, see What is SPF?
Spread the sunscreen evenly on all the skin that will be in the sun.
Use enough sunscreen. To get the right amount of sunscreen use the "two-finger rule." Squeeze out sunscreen along the length of your first two fingers. Use this much sunscreen on each of these parts of your body if they're in the sun: your head, neck and face; each arm; upper back; lower back; chest; stomach; each upper leg (back and front); and each lower leg (back and front).

Source:
Taylor S, Diffey B.
Simple dosage guide for suncreams will help users.
BMJ. 2002; 324: 1526.

³
Put on sunscreen 15 minutes before you go out in the sun.
Reapply your sunscreen regularly. Try to reapply at least every two hours, and more often if you've been swimming or sweating a lot.

Source:
American Academy of Dermatology.
Facts about sunscreens.
Available at http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_sunscreen.htm (accessed on 12 March 2009).

⁴
Reapply sunscreen more often when you're in the snow or in water. The sun's rays reflect off these surfaces, which means you get more sun.
Don't stay in the sun longer just because you're using sunscreen. You can still get burned. If you use sunscreen to stay in the sun longer, you can actually increase your chances of getting a type of skin cancer called melanoma.

Source:
Autier P, Dore JF, Negrier S, et al.
Sunscreen use and duration of sun exposure: a double-blind, randomized trial.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1999; 91: 1304-1309.

⁵ (To find out more, see Melanoma.)
Don't use tanning booths. Sunlamps in tanning booths give off mostly UV-A rays, and these may play a part in causing skin cancer.

Take extra care with children's skin

Children and teenagers are more likely to spend a long time in the sun, so it's important to take special care of their skin. If your skin is damaged by the sun when you're a child, you're more likely to get skin cancer (especially melanoma) later in life.

Source:
American Cancer Society.
Cancer prevention and early detection: facts and figures 2008.
Available at http://www.cancer.org (accessed on 16 March 2009).

⁶

Babies under 6 months old should stay out of the sun because their skin is thin and sensitive, and sunscreens may give them a rash.

Sources for the information on this page:

Moloney FJ, Collins S, Murphy GM.Sunscreens: safety, efficacy and appropriate use.American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2002; 3: 185-191.

Glanz K, Saraiya M, Wechsler H, et al.Guidelines for school programs to prevent skin cancer.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2002; 51: 1-18.

Taylor S, Diffey B.Simple dosage guide for suncreams will help users.BMJ. 2002; 324: 1526.

American Academy of Dermatology. Facts about sunscreens. Available at http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_sunscreen.htm (accessed on 12 March 2009).

Autier P, Dore JF, Negrier S, et al.Sunscreen use and duration of sun exposure: a double-blind, randomized trial.Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1999; 91: 1304-1309.

American Cancer Society.Cancer prevention and early detection: facts and figures 2008.Available at http://www.cancer.org (accessed on 16 March 2009).

This information was last updated on Apr 14, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.