Summer 2012 (Vol. 29, No. 2)
A Message from the President
Protecting young people from the sun is always important; since the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation hits the earth all year-round. However, it is especially essential at this time of year, when UV- rays are the most intense and children are spending more time outdoors. Their risk of receiving dangerous amounts of sun exposure — and suffering everything from blistering sunburns to heatstroke — is great. Even mild to moderate increases in sun exposure over the summer, whether or not they lead to sunburn, increase their lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.Sun and Skin News: Summer 2012 (Vol. 29, No. 2)
Men Fall Short in Skin Cancer Knowledge and Prevention: How They Are Paying the Price
In a new survey, just 51 percent of US men reported using sunscreen in the past 12 months, and an alarming 70 percent did not know the warning signs of skin cancer.
Can Aspirin Help Protect Older Women Against Melanoma?
The world’s most common over-the-counter drug may have a new purpose: new research shows that aspirin may help prevent melanoma in older women. Post-menopausal white women who regularly took aspirin were up to 30 percent less likely to develop melanoma than non-aspirin users, according to a recent analysis of the large Women’s Health Initiative study.Read More
Total-Body Examinations Cut Melanoma Deaths in Half: Largest Screening Study Ever Provides Powerful Evidence
Tanning salons routinely provide inaccurate information to teens seeking their services, according to a new congressional report from members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The study found that the vast majority of tanning salons contacted by Committee investigators denied the serious health risks (including skin cancer) associated with indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanning, instead claiming that indoor tanning offers health benefits. Read More
Ask the Expert
Are self-tanners safe? I’ve heard that DHA (the main coloring agent in self-tanning lotions) is dangerous, as are the spray versions of self-tanners.Read More