Summer has officially begun, and unfortunately, so has the yearly crusade against my favorite skincare product, sunscreen. TikTok has been buzzing with new and old myths alike—drinking water prevents sunburns, sunscreen causes skin cancer, sunscreen contains endocrine disruptors, sunscreen is responsible for Vitamin D deficiency, and more. I know I can’t be the only one who spit out my water after hearing that first one, but sadly, even the most outrageous misinformation does harm. This survey from the Orlando Health Cancer Institute found that 23% of adults under the age of 35 believe that drinking water or staying hydrated protects them from getting a sunburn. This same survey found that 14% of people 35 and younger believe that sunscreen is more harmful than sun exposure. How can there possibly be so much hate toward a product that helps prevent skin cancer AND signs of aging caused by sun damage? It blows my mind, y’all. In the U.S., skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer; anybody with that glorious organ sack we call skin can get it. Especially in light of ongoing sunscreen misinformation, it’s crucial to produce equitable education about sunscreen and skin cancer risks. Here are three populations that may not be aware of their risk of skin cancer, with action steps and talking points for public health and health care professionals. People of ColorMelanin is magic y’all, but melanin, and therefore skin, can still get damaged! It’s true that white people and those with lighter skin tones are more often diagnosed with skin cancer; however, Black people and folks with darker skin tones are more likely to die of it. This rate of mortality is due to a later diagnosis. Other than Black Girl Sunscreen, a Black woman owned brand, I can’t think of sunscreen ads featuring people of color, can you? Organizations such as the Skin Cancer Foundation and the National Cancer Institute have information on their websites about skin cancer risk and people of color, but one would have to seek out this education specifically. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Black and Brown people are left unaware of the benefits of sunscreen as it relates to skin cancer prevention. When sunscreen is discussed, it usually revolves around skincare, such as benefiting those with vitiligo and melasma and preventing skin darkening. Hispanic and Latin populations typically only worry about skin cancer if they have a family history, and even then, if their occupations are indoors, it’s out of mind. What can we do to encourage sunscreen use amongst POC? Skin Cancer and Sunscreen Action Steps and Talking Points for People of Color
MenMen of all races and ethnicities are at a higher risk of dying from skin cancer than women, regardless of age. Furthermore, after the age of 50, a higher percentage of men are more likely to develop skin cancer than women of the same age. Excuse me while I go schedule a dermatologist appointment for my father. Several factors contribute to this outcome: men typically do not receive the amount of education on sunscreen or skin cancer that women do, men are less likely to go to a doctor regularly where they might get a referral to a dermatologist, men are not likely to know to do regular skin checks, and they may have different attitudes about sunscreen. I can’t say this surprised me; I don’t personally know too many men who wear sunscreen often, if at all. What can we do to rectify this lapse in education? Skin Cancer and Sunscreen Action Steps and Talking Points for Men
People who are ImmunocompromisedThis group of people includes transplant recipients, cancer patients, cancer survivors, those living with HIV, those who take immunosuppressants, and others. Folks who are immunocompromised have a much higher risk of skin cancer than those with normal immune systems. It would be easy to assume that this group of people is educated by their healthcare providers about their risk of skin cancer and are encouraged to use sunscreen along with other sun protection methods. But that would be doing this population a disservice. How can we communicate about skin cancer and sunscreen use among this group? Skin Cancer and Sunscreen Action Steps and Talking Points for People who are Immunocompromised
Skin Cancer and Sunscreen Talking Points for the General PublicUse these talking points to share how people should apply sunscreen for maximum protection:
By: Melissa Goetz
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