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Beach season is here! Let’s talk about safety.

What hazards come with summertime and do they pose any real risk of injury or death? Since the popularity of the movie Jaws, shark attacks are one of the dangers people fear most at the beach. The real risk of death from a shark attack is less than one in 265 million. What about weather-related deaths, such as lighting strike at the beach? In a 12-year period, 18 lighting-related deaths were reported on beaches (out of 60 million annual US beachgoers), bringing that risk to 1 in 40 million. Watercraft injuries such as jet skis are one of the riskier water activities. What are the odds that operating a jet ski at the beach will kill you? Well, around 40 people each year are killed in jet ski accidents in the United States (out of the 1 million Americans that utilize them), equating to a 1 in 25,000 risk. Now, let’s talk about the most prevalent danger you may face this summer. A threat that kills nearly 7500 people in the United States each year placing the lifetime risk of death at 1 in 400 for fair-skinned Americans. Curious?

The statistics prove there is one danger that far outpaces sharks, lightning and jet ski deaths; that danger is melanoma. Melanoma is caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV) damaging the DNA of the skin cells. The good news is, prevention is possible and melanoma is curable if caught and treated early. Primary prevention is being aware of the dangers of UV exposure and the importance of the use of sunscreen and protective clothing. How can you be a melanoma lifeguard at the beach this summer? Always apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF factor of 30 or higher. Bring an extra bottle of sunscreen and share it with friends and family members, reminding them to reapply every two hours. You may have heard that it’s a good idea to get an early sunburn to jumpstart your summer tan. This is false! When possible, seek shade between 10 AM and 2 PM and wear protective clothing when in the sun.

While at the beach, if you see someone with a dark spot that is oddly shaped (asymmetric), has irregular or uneven borders, has multiple colors, has a diameter greater than 6mm (width of a pencil), or is evolving, tell the person to see a dermatologist immediately. Often times, when someone else points out an area of concern it reinforces that the spot is not normal and they need to have it examined professionally. While this may be an uncomfortable conversation, the staff at our office has saved lives by telling people in the checkout line with dark moles on their backs or legs to come in and see us; and in many cases, it turned out to be melanoma.

When it comes to selecting the right sunscreen, these days it is hard to make a wrong choice. Almost all of the products on the shelves have broad-spectrum protection. Personally, I like the Neutrogena line of sunscreens. They come in a variety of formulations (sprays and lotions) and contain either a chemical sunscreen or a physical sunblock. Also, the sun protective clothing options have increased exponentially over the last decade. I generally recommend the Columbia brand because it is often the easiest to find. I remind patients to protect their head and ears with a wide-brimmed hat and their eyes and eyelids with polarized UV blocking sunglasses.

Much like the Disney movie Ratatouille, which repeats the theme that “Anyone Can Cook,” the same is true of preventing and detecting skin cancer, “ANYONE CAN LIFEGUARD.” So, you don’t have to be on Baywatch to be a lifesaver. All you need is a bottle of sunscreen and the courage to point out that funny looking spot to a friend or even a stranger. A simple skin exam could save a life.

Did you know that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime? The good news is, when detected and treated early, skin cancer is highly curable. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer with more than 4 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer. More than 1 million cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Melanoma accounts for less than one percent of skin cancer cases, but the vast majority of skin cancer deaths.

One of the most effective treatment options for skin cancer is Mohs micrographic surgery. Mohs is a highly specialized and precise treatment for skin cancer in which the cancer is removed in stages, one tissue layer at a time. Mohs surgery is the only treatment method that allows the evaluation of skin cancer cells during the in-office procedure, which results in the highest cure rate possible while removing the least amount of normal tissue. It has become the gold standard for skin cancer treatment.

A lesser-known treatment option is Superficial Radiation Therapy or SRT for short. SRT is a painless, safe, and highly effective, non-surgical option for non-melanoma skin cancer treatment. It is revolutionizing skin cancer treatment in a dermatological setting. Unlike traditional radiation that delivers massive amounts of energy that penetrates deep into the body and can cause severe skin reactions, SRT utilizes a small, portable device that delivers very low energy just below the surface of the skin. It treats only skin cancers. Because SRT uses low energy radiotherapy, skin reactions are typically mild and very small. Along with eliminating the risks for post-surgical infections and complications, SRT provides patients with a safe and effective treatment option that offers many benefits, including a 95% + cure rate, no anesthesia, no bleeding, no downtime, no stitches, and no scarring. Most insurances as well as Medicare cover SRT.

Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. If you find yourself or a loved one dealing with a skin cancer diagnosis, consider all your treatment options before deciding on a care plan. Speaking with a skin cancer expert, such as a board-certified dermatologist, is a great place to start. We can help you develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs and diagnosis.