How many times a day should sunscreen be applied to prevent cancer?
You probably apply sunscreen when you go to the beach, but what about the 20 minutes you walk in the sun to the office?
The hours you spend in the car?
On the occasion of Skin Cancer Awareness Week, an expert explains what we need to do to protect ourselves.
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Iris Cole
17/06/2022
Friday, 17 June 2022, 01:50 Updated: 01:51
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Awareness of sun damage and skin protection has risen sharply in recent years, and yet - skin cancer has not really disappeared from our lives.
Dr. Moore Miodobnik, director of the Melanoma and Skin Tumors Center at Ichilov Hospital, was a guest on the "Expert Clinic" podcast to explain what we need to do to protect ourselves from skin tumors.
" Number one for all these tumors, "said Dr. Miodobnik," Since it is a risk factor that we can control and avoid, we recommend not to be exposed to the sun during the hottest hours. It is definitely recommended for people, and especially for bright people and people with a personal or family history of skin tumors, to avoid exposure, and certainly in the hot hours. "
When exposed to the sun, of course a sunscreen is needed.
"We live in Israel, even when we go out in the morning we will probably be exposed to the sun sometime during the day - we will get in the car, drive home from work or on the way to errands, some sun rays also penetrate car windows, so you should always be protected, "
said Dr. Miodobnik.
What it means?
If we are expecting a routine total day, it is enough to apply in the morning a sunscreen, with an SPF of 30 or more in the face and exposed area, like hands.
If the exposure is going to be continuous, a few hours - which we do not recommend - you should renew the application several times, probably after exposure to water. "In case of prolonged exposure, of course, it is recommended to use a hat and clothes with sleeves.
When should I see a dermatologist?
Examining the whole body, but literally the whole body.
Examination by a dermatologist (Photo: ShutterStock)
From the age of 16, it is advisable to have a check-up with a dermatologist once a year.
In this test the doctor reviews the whole body and makes sure that there are no moles and suspicious wounds.
"Although the skin test is not yet considered a screening test, we recommend that anyone over the age of 16 come and be tested once a year for an all-skin test, certainly for soldiers who are in the field a lot," said Dr. Miodobnik, noting that skin tumors and melanoma are seen in young people as well. In fact, melanoma is the third most common tumor in young people - between 20 and 39 - a much higher incidence than its prevalence in the general population. "
More on Walla!
When should you see a dermatologist - and what is important to ask him?
To the full article
Beyond that, in any case where there is a gem that has changed shape, or new, or a suspicious wound that has not healed - it is important to seek examination.
"A lesion can look like a wound, a new or bleeding wound that has not healed, that you put an antibiotic ointment on and it did not help," said Dr. Miodobnik. Melanoma skin usually looks like an unattractive mole. "The patient can testify that the mole has changed - it has grown or its boundaries have changed a bit, it has darkened a bit," she explained.
Dr. Moore Miodobnik explains what we need to do to protect ourselves from skin cancer (Walla system)
"An optimal skin examination is an examination of the entire skin - an examination usually in the abstraction, looking at the entire skin from the scalp to the feet," said Dr. Miodobnik, adding that the entire nape should be examined. "Today we also use an aid called a dermoscope that allows us to see through polarized light enlarged structures, as well as a sharp resolution.
"A specialist dermatologist can identify lesions that are suspected of being malignant," she added.
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sun
Sunscreen
SPF
skin cancer
Melanoma