Read Full Article HereAs the summer months approach and the sun begins to shine more brightly in Northern Virginia, the risk of developing melanoma, a form of skin cancer, increases. Enjoying time in the sun might add dopamine, according to the National Library of Medicine, but it also makes many people susceptible to dangerous levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Dr. Esther Henebeng (known to her patients as Dr. EB) is a U.S. Dermatology partner in Fairfax. She is a general dermatologist, which means she sees patients with various skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancer, and performs cosmetic surgeries. Henebeng is very aware of the prevalence of skin cancer, which makes the recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month even more meaningful.
“When it comes to skin cancer, almost everybody knows about melanoma, but there are three different types,” said Henebeng. “The most common that people know besides melanoma would be squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell skin cancer. The reason we wanted to focus on melanoma is because if it’s diagnosed later in life, it can have a potential to spread way more than the basal cell or the squamous cell skin cancer, and that’s when it can go to different parts of the body.”
During the summer, Henebeng recommends a couple of things to her patients. The first is to avoid being out in the sun during peak UV hours. Those hours are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Even if it is cloudy, she says radiation can still penetrate and harm people’s skin. In addition, she notes that wearing hats with wide brims can provide adequate shade to the face and neck, reducing the likelihood of severe sunburn. Finally, she details how simply wearing sunscreen is a step many people overlook. Reapplying sunscreen every two hours is something she finds especially vital, as it should not be done just once at the beginning of the day and forgotten; rather, people should be vigilant about reapplying to maintain a high level of protection.
The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that over 9,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer daily. Although skin cancer is a rather common and treatable form of cancer, melanoma is a pervasive condition that is more likely to become fatal in men aged 15-39 than it is in women of that same age group. Skin cancer is made far worse by repeated exposure to the sun. Individuals with more than five sunburns are at increased risk of skin cancer.
Keeping one’s skin protected from severe sunburn directly correlates with a reduced risk of developing skin cancer. Henebeng explains that staying out of harm’s way and taking the initiative to get screened is very important.
“I think what is really important that people understand is that skin cancer is very prevalent,” said Henebeng. “It’s estimated that one in five Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their life. When it comes to skin cancer, there are a lot of different ways that someone may know the spot looks different or unique, and that would be a reason why they would see a dermatologist for it.”
With the heat and warmth of summer right around the corner, Henebeng implores everyone to make the most of time spent outside. However, she wants to ensure that the proper precautions are taken to keep skin cancer at bay for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
