What if I told you that you can prevent future cancers in your children by using a product you already have at home? That getting in the habit of daily application could prevent certain cancers when they’re older? Would you do it?
It’s sunblock.
Are you doing it? Daily? Year round?
As we are learning, the habits of our youth directly affect our skin today. We can’t take back all of those days in the backyard, oil on our skin and we can’t erase those tanning bed days. But what we can do is start our kids off with healthier skin, and a healthier attitude about how to care for it than we ever had.
Moms know that sunscreen goes on before the pool, before heading to the zoo for the day, and before the kids all gather in the neighborhood to play. But is sunscreen a daily habit, not just during the peak of summer?
Sun Damage and Skin Cancer
Dr. Aubriana McEvoy, MD, MS, FAAD, a WashU Medicine dermatologic surgeon and nationally recognized skin cancer expert at Siteman Cancer Center, sees the results of sun damage daily. And while we have all heard that one bad burn can turn cancerous later in life, Dr. McEvoy reminds us that the everyday exposure to the sun that we don’t even think about is hurting us just as much.
People whose jobs keep them outdoors are at risk … construction workers, mail carriers, farmers. Even pilots and cabin crew are at double the risk due to the UV exposure they get at high altitudes. Have you ever noticed your left arm getting more sun than your right? Dr. McEvoy sees more sun damage and skin cancer on the left hand and forearm due to incidental exposure through the car window.
Hobbies can also increase risk – such as gardening, golf, and fishing. Now think about our kids … when is the last time you went out of the way to put sunblock on your child’s scalp where their hair parts? It gets constant exposure to the sun. The tops of their feet? The tips of their ears? Do you do it every time they’re outside for an extended period?
Making “Skin Care” a Daily Habit for the Whole Family
Skin care. Everyone is talking about it: which products fill in our lines, and which cover our dark spots. How can we get that youthful glow that we never appreciated when we naturally had it? Siteman Cancer Center wants to help us lower our cancer risks and make “skin care” a lifelong daily habit, not just part of a beauty routine. They want to help us prevent future lines and dark spots from forming. This applies everyone, no matter their age. And it’s easy!
☀️Applying sunscreen on ordinary days– not just vacations and days out in the sun
🧴Cover the high-risk areas we often forget (the scalp part, ears, hands, eyelids, even the tops of our feet)
🕶️ Wearing sunglasses– not just for comfort or style, but to protect the skin around our eyes, where skin cancer surgeries can be challenging.
Sun exposure happens on those grocery runs that end in a quick pit stop at the park. It happens on the walks we take around the block. It happens when we rake leaves or play in the snow. It happens every day when we leave the house. Are we adequately protecting our families?
Build healthy sun habits now. Put sunscreen on before school, sports, and outdoor play. Wear baseball caps, hats, and sunglasses. Opt for shade if you’re outside for a an extended period of time. Remind your kids that no tan is a “healthy” tan. Tans are evidence of DNA damage in the skin.
Which type of sunscreen should you get? Buy one you will actually use. Try different ones, making sure they have an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher. Buy one that is easy to apply that fits into your daily routine.
Make an Appointment, Get a Second Opinion
Get regular skin check-ups as you get older and talk about it with your kids. Let them know that any spot that stands out as different from the others should be checked – what Dr. McEvoy refers to as “the ugly duckling.” Also check new spots that appear, spots that change, bleed, or don’t heal. And check everywhere – often it’s the patient or their partner who first notices potential skin cancers. And if you have a skin test that includes a biopsy, mole removal, or other dermatological evaluation, getting a second opinion is a common and often recommended step, especially if the results are unclear, the diagnosis comes from a non-specialist, or you have concerns about treatment. Check and then double check. Ask about a second opinion from Siteman Cancer Center.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. McEvoy or another WashU Medicine dermatologist – or to request a second opinion at Siteman Cancer Center, call 800-600-3606 or fill out this form. Siteman Care Coordinators – oncology-trained nurses who help with scheduling and care navigation – will answer your call and guide you through the process.
