01:06 PM PDT on Thursday, June 15, 2006

KING 5 News

AP

About five bad sunburns in childhood can double your risk for skin cancer.

Every hour one person dies from skin cancer. More than 1 million new cases will be diagnosed this year in the United States alone. The damage starts early and the damage is cumulative. About five bad sunburns in childhood can double your risk for skin cancer.

Skin cancer cases have tripled in the past 25 years and the rate for deadly melanoma in Washington State is greater than it is nationwide.

But skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and prevention need to start in childhood.

Three types of skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Nationally, there are more new cases of skin cancer every year than the combined incidence of cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon. In fact, more than half of all new cancers are skin cancers. The good news is almost all skin cancers are preventable.

The are three types of skin cancer:

- Basil cell carcinoma - generally occurs on the face and is usually treatable.

- Squamous cell carcinoma - often appear on the face, ears, and backs of the hands and can be serious if not treated.

- Malignant melinoma - the most serious of the common forms of skin cancer.

- Melanoma represents only about 4 percent of all skin cancers in the U.S., but accounts for more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths.

The ABCD Rule

The ABCD rule is a convenient guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Be on the lookout and notify your doctor about any changes in the following factors:

- A is for asymmetry: Half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.

- B is for border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.

- C is for color: The color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue.

- D is for diamaeter: The area is larger than 6 millimeters (about 1/4 inch - the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.

Is there such a thing as a healthy tan?

"A tan is a sign of sun damage, so there is no such thing as a healthy tan," said Dr. Ulrike Ochs, a dermatologist at Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center. "The intermittent exposure to ultraviolet light on what we term unacclimatized skin, meaning pale skin increases your risk of skin cancer substantially more."

"It's interesting that for an Eastern Washington farmer who is out every day in the sun and has a base tan for life is not at increased risk of melanoma," said Dr. David Byrd of the University of Washington Medical Center.

"So the people who go to Cancun or Hawaii every year in the middle of winter are at a much greater risk of getting skin cancer than people who are just exposed to ultraviolet light on a regular basis," said Dr. Ochs.

How do I know what SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is right for me and my kids?

"Usually at an SPF 15 you get a very good protection from your sunscreen on up to 30,when you start getting higher SPF's 45-50 you're really not getting that much more protection," said Dr. Robin Hornung, chief of dermatology at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

Hornung advises people to apply the sunscreen to dry skin about 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside and then if you're swimming sweating a lot definitely at least every couple of hours if you can and it has to be liberal application.

"In reality you really need to glob it on and make it a nice thick covering," she said. "And it's not just sunscreen use. Avoid the midday sun, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants if possible, hats."

Do genetics play a role in cancer risk?

Dr. Ochs says genetics determine what color your skin is. The lighter your skin the more of a genetic disadvantage one is for being in UV light. So if you have red hair and light skin, you are disadvantaged. The darker your skin, the more protected your skin is.

If you have a strong family history of melanoma, that puts you at significantly increased risk.

If you have questions about skin cancer or any other cancer, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. Cancer information specialists are standing by to provide immediate answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They'll also put you in touch with local resources and send a free personalized information packet to fit your specific needs.