Jul 092012
Someone dies from skin cancer everyday.- Of all new cancers diagnosed this year, more than half will be a form of skin cancer.
- One in five Americans will develop skin cancer.
- There are more cases of skin cancer than all other forms of cancer combined.
- The rate of increase for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, has the fastest growing rate of all cancers. In 1980 a person’s risk for developing skin cancer was 1 in 250, currently it is 1 in 87. If the rate continues at this pace it will be 1 in 75 by the year 2000, less than a year away. What will it be when your child is an adult?
- Studies show that 80% of sun damage occurs before the age of 18.
- Sun exposure in childhood and adolescence increases the risk of developing melanoma. Experts say that your chance of developing melanoma is doubled by a blistering sunburn.
- There are three types of Ultraviolet Rays. Ultraviolet rays are forms of radiation that penetrate and change the structure of the cells and can also cause damage to the eyes.
- UVA rays are deep penetrating, down to the dermis, or second layer of skin. This ray is mainly responsible for the skins aging but also contributes to skin cancer. It is the most abundant of the three rays.
- UVB rays do not penetrate as deeply but are more powerful and more damaging. They contribute to sunburns, skin aging and cancer.
- UVC rays do not reach the earth’s surface. They are absorbed by the ozone layer.
- A tan or burn is the skin’s response to sun exposure. When the cells are damaged they produce melanin, which results in the darker skin or sunburn.