Cancer and Skin Protection
Thinking of going down to the Caribbean for a visit? Goin' back home for Chrismtas? Don't forget to pack the sunscreen! Whether you have a natural tan or not, skin cancer is still a definite concern. The worldwide incidence of skin cancer equals the incidence of all other cancers combined, and comes in three flavours (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and most threatening, malignant melanoma). Additionally, the benign condition known as "solar keratosis" - a potential precursor to skin cancer - is 10 times more common. Skin cancer, solar keratosis and a related condition called "photoaging" have been linked with exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays - what we use sunscreen to protect against.
Studies of skin cancer occurrence around the world have indicated that areas that have the highest exposure to solar ultraviolet, like the tropics, and lighter-skinned people whose skin allows for the most penetration of UV rays are most susceptible. However, lest you succumb to an attack of "my skin is naturally darker, so it can't happen to ME!" syndrome, I warn you that the same susceptibility to UV rays in those of light skin also allows them to catch early signs of skin cancer more quickly than darker skinned people would. All three types of skin cancer are potentially curable - if caught early. The key here is to catch it early…harder to do if we don't think it can happen to us. Most especially, if you feel like you have a sunburn that just won't go away, it's time to see a doctor.
Sunscreen provides an additional layer of protection against harmful solar ultraviolet rays - a valuable extra layer of protection that doesn't take much to pack in the suitcase or to put on. So, whether it be on the beaches of Barbados, next to the thunder of Kaiteur Falls in Guyana, on a cruise, or just visiting family in the Caribbean, remember to save space in the suitcase for the sunscreen! Oh...and a nice, floppy sunhat isn’t a bad idea either.