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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffMost squamous cell carcinomas can be prevented. To protect yourself:
- Avoid the midday sun. Sunlight is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day, even in winter or when it's cloudy. You absorb UV radiation year-round, and clouds offer little protection from damaging rays. Keep in mind that sunlight is more intense when it reflects off water, sand and snow.
- Use sunscreen year-round. Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB types of radiation from the sun and has an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Even the best sunscreen might be less effective than the SPF number on the bottle would lead you to believe if it isn't applied thoroughly or thickly enough, or if it's perspired away or washed off while swimming.
- Wear protective clothing. Because no sunscreen provides complete protection, it's important to also wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs and a broad-brimmed hat rather than a baseball cap or visor. Some companies sell photoprotective clothing. Your dermatologist can recommend an appropriate brand. And don't forget sunglasses. Look for those that provide full protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
- Avoid tanning beds. People may claim that indoor tanning is less damaging than natural sunlight, but the opposite may be true. Tanning beds emit UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into your skin and are more likely to cause cancerous lesions. If you can't resist the sun-tanned look, choose self-tanning lotions or sprays.
- Be aware that some medications make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Some common prescription and over-the-counter drugs make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. These include some antibiotics, high blood pressure medications, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and the acne medication isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret). Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of any medications you take. If they make you more sun sensitive, take extra precautions.
- Perform regular skin checks. Examine your skin often for new growths or changes in existing moles, freckles, bumps and birthmarks. Don't forget to check your scalp, ears, genital area and buttocks.
References
- Squamous cell carcinoma. The Skin Cancer Foundation. http://www.skincancer.org/squamous-cell-carcinoma.html. Accessed Feb. 17, 2011.
- Detailed guide: Skin cancer — basal and squamous cell. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003139-pdf.pdf. Accessed Feb. 17, 2011.
- Lim JL. Epidemiology and clinical features of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 17, 2011.
- Public health statement for arsenic. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/PHS/PHS.asp?id=18&tid=3. Accessed Feb. 18, 2011.
- Skin cancer treatment PDQ: Professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/skin/HealthProfessional/AllPages/Print. Accessed Feb. 17, 2011.
- Common medications may increase sun sensitivity. The Skin Cancer Foundation. http://www.skincancer.org/common-medications-may-increase-sun-sensitivity.html. Accessed Feb. 18, 2011.
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