PREVENTION OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA

• Primary prevention
  
  • Limiting sun exposure
    
    • Avoid the strong midday sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
      
    • When outdoors, seek out shaded areas
      
    • Wear wide-brimmed hats ( to protect the ears), long-sleeved shirts and long pants ( tightly woven clothing is more protective)
      
    • Wear sunglasses
      
    • Do not use sunbeds or tanning salons
      
      • UV can cause skin cancer and wrinkling
        
      • The amount of radiation is similar to the sun and in some cases may be stronger
        
    • Sunburn or excessive exposure to the sun in childhood is thought to be the biggest risk factor to the developing of skin cancer as an adult.
      
    • People with a family history of melanoma should take extra care to protect their skin from the sun.
      
  • Using sunscreens
    
    • Use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15(Sun Protecting Factor)
      
    • Provide broad spectrum coverage against both UVA and UVB rays
      
    • SPF
      
      • Calculated by the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on sunscreen protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin.
        
      • E.g. if a person would turn red after ten minutes of exposure in the sun, SPF 2 will give protection for 20 minutes, while SPF 15 will give him protection for 150 minutes against to the exposure to the sun.
        
    • Actually, SPF no. on sunscreen only reflects the product's screening ability for UVB rays. No FDA-approved rating system that identifies UVA protection have yet been made
      
    • apply to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going outdoors
      
    • reapplying the product every two to three hours and after sweating and swimming
      
    • Should be applied everyday to exposed skin, not just if you are gioing to be in the sun.
      
      • UVB rays cannot penetrate galss windows, UVA rays can
        
    • Don't reserve the use of sunscreen only for sunny days.
      
      • Even on a cloudy days, 80% of the sun's ultraviolet rays can pass through the cloud
        
      • Sand reflects 25% of the sun rays
        
      • Snow reflects 80% of the sun rays
        
      • Increase the chances of sunburn
        
    • Concerns
      
      • May provide a false sense of security. No products can give 100% UVB protection
        
      • Users may spend excessive amount of time under the sun
        
  • Seeking medical attention for a suspicious and changing nevus
    
    • 46% of patients with melanoma did not seek medical attention until they found ulceration, bleeding or a lump in the pigmented lesion (late signs of melanoma)
      
• Secondary prevention
  
  • Routinely performing a total skin examination for a specific segments of the population
    
    • Routine screening for melanoma could save lives because earlier detection of thinner tumours is associated with better survival rates.