USNEWS：7种预防皮肤癌的方法

You’ve applied sunscreen, but are you still directly exposing your skin to the sun? Seeking that sun-kissed complexion can have dangerous consequences. “Sunbathing is bad because ultraviolet rays are harmful to the DNA of the cells in the skin. When those cells get damaged it leads to signs of aging and then skin cancer,” Lamb says. At the beach, reapply a water-resistant broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every two to three hours, and much more often if you’re in the water or sweating a lot. Seek shade as much as possible, she says. “Often people apply sunscreen, but don’t actually stay out of the sun,” Lambs says. “Sitting under an umbrella and wearing a hat are critical.”

4. Avoid tanning beds.

The radiation from indoor tanning beds is sometimes stronger than radiation from the sun. This can cause skin cell mutations, explains Dr. Gary Goldenberg, assistant clinical professor of dermatology and pathology at the Icahn Sinai School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Once cells are mutated, they continue to grow into tumors that are cancerous. Wrinkles are caused by damaging the epidermis – the outer layer of the skin – and the dermis – the middle layer of the skin,” he says. “The skin becomes thin, wrinkled and can look sullen from years of sun exposure.”

5. Wear protective clothing.

Although it’s tempting to lose the clothing, keep those shirts on, Ratner says. Better yet, seek protective clothing instead of traditional cotton fibers. She recommends seeking sun protective clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor – or UPF rating. A UPF 50 rating means that one in 50 of the sun’s rays reaches the skin. “UPF is partly dependent on the weave of the fabric (a tighter weave gives more protection), the weight and density of the fabric, and the color,” Ratner says. “Choosing a garment with a UPF label often means that the garment is fashionable as well as functional, with light breathable fabric.” You can often find UPF labels on long-sleeved shirts, pants and wide-brimmed hats.

Covering up with such clothing can help you avoid skin cancer but also painful sunburns, says Dr. Pauline Funchain, a medical oncologist who specializes in melanoma at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “Sun protection is an important part of skin cancer prevention because it absolutely prevents or reduces” the damage that UV radiation can inflict on skin cells.

And don’t forget your sunglasses – this may help reduce your chances of developing ocular melanoma, a dangerous form of eye cancer. This relatively rare form of cancer affects about 2,500 adults in the U.S. each year, and while the connection between UV exposure and OM is not clear, some doctors believe there is an association. One thing we do know is that these cancers are more common among fair-skinned and blue-eyed individuals, the Ocular Melanoma Foundation reports. The American Cancer Society recommends wearing “wrap-around sunglasses with 99 percent to 100 percent UVA and UVB absorption,” as these “provide the best protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin. This might help reduce the risk of developing cancer of the skin around the eyes.”

6. Check yourself.

If you have a history of extensive sun exposure, lighter skin pigmentation and a family or personal history of skin cancer, you should check your skin once per month. And be sure to check all of your skin – even those hard-to-see spots and areas that don’t generally see the sun, as skin cancers can still develop there. “If you are in a lower risk category, then (checking) every three months or so is fine,” Lamb says. If you notice any bleeding, burning, itching or a nonhealing sore, you should see a dermatologist, she says.