Common Sense Health: Don’t play with fire – A warning about skin cancer

By Dr. Gifford-Jones and Diana Gifford-Jones on May 23, 2025.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. And most cases are preventable. So why are we still seeing over 5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and 90,000 cases in Canada, including well over 100,000 cases across both countries of melanoma, the deadliest form?

Don’t think it won’t be you. The sun doesn’t play favourites. It doesn’t care if you’re fair-skinned or olive-toned, whether you’re working on a tan or just walking the dog. If you’re unprotected, you’re at risk.

Yet, too many people treat sunburn like a harmless rite of summer. Here’s the truth: just one blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk of developing melanoma later in life.

Recent research is sounding the alarm even louder. A 2024 study out of the University of Sydney tracked thousands of participants over two decades and found that people who regularly used broad-spectrum sunscreen had a 40% lower risk of developing carcinoma in skin cells. That’s a big number. And it doesn’t just apply to beach days. They found the same benefit for people who used sunscreen during daily for incidental sun exposure such a when walking to work or gardening.

Another study from Harvard last year added more insight. It’s not just the SPF number that matters. It’s how you use it. Many people underapply sunscreen, using about a quarter of the amount needed for full protection. Think of it this way. If you’re applying SPF 30 like a miser, you’re only getting the protection of SPF 7 or 8. That’s not enough.

Let’s bust a few myths.

Myth #1: “I don’t need sunscreen on cloudy days.” False. Up to 80% of UV rays still reach your skin when it’s overcast.

Myth #2: “I have darker skin, so I’m not at risk.” Wrong again. People with darker complexions can and do get skin cancer – and when they do, it’s often caught later, when it’s more dangerous.

Myth #3: “A base tan protects me.” A tan is skin damage, plain and simple. There’s no such thing as a healthy tan.

The Canadian Dermatology Association now advises wearing SPF 30 or higher every day from March to October, even if you’re not planning to be outdoors for long. And for those who spend a lot of time outside – farmers, construction workers, athletes – the message is even stronger. Cover up with long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.

Let’s not forget about vitamin D. People often ask: “If I wear sunscreen, won’t I be vitamin D deficient?” If you ask us, we’ll tell you we prefer to get our vitamin D from diet and supplements. Most dermatologists recommend 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

For the men reading this, especially those over 50, you’re the group most likely to develop melanoma, and the least likely to use sunscreen. Consider this a wake-up call. Regular skin checks, either at home or with a dermatologist, save lives. Look for new moles, changing spots, or anything that doesn’t heal. When caught early, the survival rate for melanoma is over 90%. But once it spreads, those odds drop fast.

Be sun smart. Use sunscreen generously. Reapply it every two hours. Cover your skin. Skip the tanning beds entirely. And keep an eye on your own body.

As an old medical professor used to say, “Skin remembers.” It remembers every sunburn, every tanning session, every time you said, “I’ll be fine.” And one day, it might remind you – with a diagnosis you weren’t expecting.

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