Top Five Tips to Reduce Skin Cancer

Article courtesy of Darrell Smith, Executive Director, The International Window Film Association (IWFA)

Neighborhood barbeques, pool parties, and vacations all bring summer close to mind. With all the bright fun that summer offers, it’s also a time to remember that this season is when the sun’s harmful UV rays are the strongest. Without protection from these rays, skin damage and even skin cancer can occur. Who wants that dark cloud hanging over their head, interfering with the joys of the summer, if it can be avoided?

It’s important to be aware of the stark reality of skin cancer. According to SkinCancer.org, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime, and each year over 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are treated in more than 3.3 million people in the U.S.

While these numbers are startling, there are rays of hope. According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most preventable cancer and can be drastically reduced by the use of window film and other measures.

Here are five top tips to reduce your risk of skin cancer:

1. Take advantage of free skin cancer screenings. These screenings look for cancers including actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, atypical nevus, and melanoma. Find a location near you.
2. Put sunscreen on even on cloudy days. It’s a myth that you can’t get sun damage on cloudy days. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, clouds block as little as 20% of UV rays, so on a cloudy day you’re still experiencing up to 80% of the sun’s harsh effects.
3. Use professionally installed window film. Window film is a thin sheet of window coating that is designed to protect windows and interior spaces from the effects of the sun, among other things. Having a professional install window film on your car, home, and office windows ensures that your windows are covered properly and that you get the best skin protection possible – blocking 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. There are many window film options available so it’s important to consult a professional to get the best product for your needs. Here’s a link to find an installer near you.
4. Use the right amount of sunscreen. Most adults need one ounce of sunscreen, an amount that is roughly the size of your palm. Be sure to let it soak in for at least 20 – 30 minutes before swimming.
5. Examine your skin regularly for changes in existing moles, freckles, bumps, birthmarks and new skin growths or changes. Here’s what to look for. It’s good practice to also get a yearly full body routine skin examination with a dermatologist.

While you may be familiar with some of the prevention tips, many people think they are fully protected from the sunlight coming through their windows when driving, sitting by a window at home, or at work. This is not the case. Deep-penetrating Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays from the sun pass through ordinary glass and account for 90% of the sun’s most damaging rays. In fact, a recent study published by JAMA Ophthalmology found that the average side-window of a vehicle may only block about 70% of dangerous UV rays. According to a study from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology nearly 53% of skin cancers in the U.S. occur on the left, or drivers’, side of the body. By blocking up to 99% of UV rays from passing through your unprotected windows, professionally installed window film can help keep your skin and eyes healthier and more protected than window glass alone.

To learn more about how to better protect yourself from the sun in your home, at work, or while driving, be sure to read theIWFA’s Beauty Inside & Out e-Booklet and Consumer Guide to Automotive Window Film e-Booklet. To find professionally accredited window film installers near you, visit the IWFA’s Find An Installer.

The International Window Film Association (IWFA) is a nonprofit trade association representing leading manufacturers, distributors and dealers.