Your Skin Cancer IQ

Warm, sunny summer days provide just the right incentive to get outside and enjoy outdoor pursuits, such as swimming, biking and tennis. If you’re a cycler, you probably wear a helmet to protect your head. Or, if soccer is your game, you likely use shin guards to protect your legs.

It can be easy to forget that your skin is your body’s largest organ. It protects you from heat, sunlight, infection and injury. Do you take any special care to protect your skin when you’re outside? Perhaps you use lotion to keep your skin soft and supple, or you wear a visor to keep the sun out of your eyes. Too much sun can damage your skin by exposing it to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation can’t be seen, but is part of the energy that comes from the sun. It can also be reflected by sand, water, snow and ice.

Overexposure to the sun can cause premature aging of the skin and can also raise your risk of developing skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States.

How much do you know about protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays? Take this quick skin cancer quiz to find out.

True or False? If you tan easily without burning, you’re less likely to damage your skin.

False: Tanning is your skin’s reaction when UV rays reach the skin’s inner layer. In response, the skin makes more melanin, the pigment that colors the skin. A tan is simply the way your skin cells signal that they have been damaged by the sun’s UV rays. A tan is not a sign of good health.

True or False? Using a sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) lets you stay out in the sun longer without burning.

False: Sunscreen needs to be applied 30 minutes before you go outside and reapplied every two hours. You’ll need to reapply it more often if you’re swimming or sweating. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection. That means it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. Don’t forget to apply it to your hands, feet, ears, neck and toes. Some doctors do recommend choosing sunscreens with higher SPFs. So it is important that you talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

True or False? I wear a T-shirt over my swimsuit when I go to the pool or beach. That provides enough protection from the sun, right?

False: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Loose fitting, dark-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants provide the best protection from harmful UV rays. A wide-brimmed hat can also help keep UV rays from penetrating your skin. Other types of head coverings like baseball caps may protect part of your head, but leave your ears and neck exposed. Be vigilant and use sunscreen to protect any exposed skin.

True or False? African-Americans and people of other ethnicities who have dark skin have less risk of developing skin cancer.

False: Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of race or color. In fact, when skin cancer develops in people of color, it is often more advanced by the time it’s diagnosed. Everyone should use sunscreen and take precautions to avoid overexposure to the sun.

True or False? On cloudy days, the sun’s UV rays aren’t as strong as on sunny days.

False: UV rays can reach you on cloudy or hazy days, as well as on bright or sunny days. It’s a good idea to avoid exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the UV rays are greatest.

How did you do? If you got all the answers correct, congratulations! Your skin is probably well protected from sun damage. If you learned something new, now’s the time to start taking better care of your skin.

For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute’s website. The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health.

If you have questions about skin cancer or how to protect your skin, call the Blue Health Connection Nurse Advice Line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just call 1.888.258.3432 to speak with one of our registered nurses. You can also chat with a nurse in real time using your computer to answer your health-related questions.

You can also visit Blue Health Connection for access to personalized tools and interactive resources that can help you make more informed decisions about your health care and improve the health of your family. Become a registered user and take the Blue Health Assessment . You’ll get a personal action plan that will provide recommendations about online coaching tools that best support your specific needs.

Enjoy your summer activities, but make sure that your skin doesn’t pay the price with sunburn and overexposure to UV rays. Protect your skin by using sunscreen, covering up, and avoiding the sun when its rays are strongest.

June 2011. Paula Spurway, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute (part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health).

Page last updated: December 29, 2011