The One Thing Dermatologists Say You Should Never, Ever Do

A dermatologist is looking at a patient's skin.

According to the American Cancer Society, 3.3 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year—a number that’s been increasing in recent years. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to greatly lower your risk. It’s something dermatologists preach to clients on a regular basis. In fact, there’s one common habit that they wish everyone would stop if they want to lower their risk of getting skin cancer.

Related: The #1 Early Sign of Skin Cancer Most People Miss, According to Dermatologists

What Causes Skin Cancer and Who Is Most At Risk?

The main cause of most types of skin cancer is too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. That means if you live somewhere that’s sunny the majority of the year, you are at an increased risk. Dr. Justine Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Skin & Beauty Center, says that there are other factors that can put someone at an increased risk for skin cancer. “If you are redheaded or fair and freckled, then your risk of melanoma is much higher than in someone with darker skin,” she says.

Related: The Top 3 Types of Skin Cancer—And How You Can Avoid Them

Dr. Park also says that the risk of getting skin cancer increases as we age, especially for people over age 50. This is due to the accumulated exposure to UV rays. Simply put, someone who is 50 has spent more time in the sun than someone who is 30. Other risk factors include having a family history of skin cancer, having a compromised immune system and having a large number of moles on your body. Men are also more likely to get skin cancer than women.

While it’s important to know what can increase the risk of skin cancer, Dr. Jeannette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, emphasizes that everyone is at risk, regardless of skin cancer, gender, family history or where they live. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how to lower their risk.

Related: Here's the Latest on Skin Cancer Treatment 

The One Thing Dermatologists Say You Should Never Do

There’s one habit that Dr. Graf and Dr. Park say you should absolutely avoid if you want to lower your risk of skin cancer: Smoking and vaping.

“[Tobacco use] increases your risk of a particular type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, especially on the lips,” Dr. Park says. So if you currently smoke or vape, consider this yet another reason why you should quit.

Other Ways To Lower Your Risk of Skin Cancer

Going outside without sun protection—yes, even in the winter!—is another big no-no when it comes to preventing skin cancer.  “If someone wants to lower their risk of skin cancer, they should never go outside without SPF or proper sun protection such as SPF-treated clothing, umbrellas, hats or long sleeves. UV rays directly penetrate the skin and by using SPF or wearing sun protection, it acts as a barrier to reduce UV rays to skin contact,” Dr. Graf says.

Dr. Park agrees that wearing sunscreen every day (or makeup with SPF in it) is important. “Wearing daily sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher can almost halve your risk of melanoma, one of the most deadly forms of cancer,” she explains.

Getting a sunburn is especially bad—and not just because it’s painful. “Sunburns are known to cause melanoma, which is a cancerous mole. Some studies show that having a severe, blistering sunburn before the age of 18 more than doubles your risk of melanoma,” Dr. Park says.

Last, both doctors say it’s important for everyone to see a dermatologist once a year for a skin check. When skin cancer is caught early and before it spreads to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. But after it starts to spread, the likelihood of survival sharply decreases.

It truly isn’t that cumbersome to protect yourself from skin cancer. Get into the habit of wearing SPF every day, stop smoking or vaping if that’s something you do, and see your dermatologist once a year. Those three actions can greatly lower your risk. That way, you’ll have many more sunny days ahead to enjoy—with protection of course!

Next up, get answers straight from doctors about the most common skin cancer questions.

Sources

• Dr. Justine Park, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Skin & Beauty Center

• Dr. Jeannette Graf, MD, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine