How to get to the truth about one of the most common forms of cancer.

Millions of Americans are diagnosed with cancer yearly. And while you might hear a lot about some of the deadliest kinds — breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer — those are not the most common ones.

You might be surprised to learn that the most common form of cancer is skin cancer. Each year, close to 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, and millions more are diagnosed with less serious basal or squamous cell carcinoma. (The exact number is not known because those kinds of skin cancer are not tracked by cancer registries.) Melanoma can be very dangerous because of its ability to quickly spread to other organs.

Thankfully, if you know how to protect yourself, you can prevent most skin cancers, even though nearly 10,000 Americans are diagnosed daily. Those high numbers are partly due to skin cancer myths that too many people still believe. Here are 7 of them — and what the truth is instead.

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Skin cancer myth #1: Getting a tan at a salon is less dangerous than getting one in the sun.

Exposure to 2 types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, puts you at risk of developing skin cancer. But those harmful rays can come from either the sun or artificial light sources such as tanning beds.

“The amount of UVA and UVB in a tanning bed is unregulated; there is no safe way to use one,” says Elizabeth Berry, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Skin cancer myth #2: Only fair-skinned people get skin cancer.

While it’s true that dark-skinned people are less likely to get sunburns, everyone’s skin can be damaged by exposure to UVA and UVB radiation. Additionally, you can get skin cancer on parts of the body that are not usually exposed to the sun.

“Although skin cancer rates are lower in darker skin types, people with skin of color can still get skin cancer,” says Dr. Berry. “Unfortunately, these skin cancers, including one of the most dangerous types, melanoma, are often found at later stages, when they are more difficult to treat. Melanoma in darker skin types occurs most commonly on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, so it’s important to check those areas carefully.”

That said, you may have an increased risk of skin cancer if you have fair skin that freckles and either burns easily or doesn’t tan well. Having red or blond hair and eyes that are blue, green or another light color can also increase your risk.

Other risk factors affect people with any color skin, hair or eyes. For melanoma, those factors include having a history of blistering sunburns in your youth, having a lot of moles (or a family history of unusual moles), and having a personal or family history of melanoma.

Skin cancer myth #3: You only need to wear sunscreen in the summer.

While the sun is more intense during the summer, you’ll want to protect your skin year-round. That’s especially true from midmorning to late afternoon, when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Sun protection measures include:

• Protective clothing
• Shade
• Sunscreen
• Wide-brimmed hats
• Wraparound UV-blocking sunglasses

“The UV index, now found in most weather apps, can be helpful in deciding how much protection you need,” Dr. Berry says. “If the UV index is 3 or above, you need some form of sun protection. Even if the UV index is 1 or 2, you should consider sun protection if you are going to be outside for longer than a few minutes.”

Keep in mind that UV rays can travel through clouds and be reflected by sand, water, snow, ice and other surfaces. That may explain why most sunburns aren’t from intentional tanning.

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Skin cancer myth #4: The higher the SPF rating on your sunscreen, the longer it will protect you.

The sun protection factor (SPF) rating on your sunscreen has no connection to how long it will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. It does, however, tell you the level of protection provided by the sunscreen product (the higher the number, the better the protection).

You should apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before sun exposure and every 2 hours throughout the day. If you go swimming or get sweaty, you should reapply your sunscreen afterward. (Water-resistant sunscreen is effective for only 40 to 80 minutes, depending on the formulation.9)

Be sure to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen (which means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of 30 or higher. Plan to use an ounce or more for each application if you’re an average size adult, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Skin cancer myth #5: Your T-shirt and baseball cap protect you from the sun while you’re mowing the grass.

Sorry, your vintage Bruce Springsteen concert tee isn’t all that effective at blocking the sun.

“All clothing provides at least some sun protection, but a thin, white cotton T-shirt may not be enough,” says Dr. Berry. “The UV protection that clothing provides depends on the fabric thickness, color, yarn structure and weave, among other things. In general, fabrics that are darker, thicker and more tightly woven will provide good sun protection.”

Consider clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) label. It’s designed to be lighter and more breathable while still being protective. A UPF value of 15 to 24 is good, 25 to 39 is very good, and 40 to 50 is excellent. As with sunscreen, aim for a UFP of at least 30, Dr. Berry suggests.

As for that baseball cap, it leaves your ears and the back of your neck exposed to the sun. That’s why experts recommend a wide-brimmed hat in addition to using sunscreen.

Skin cancer myth #6: You need exposure to the sun to get enough vitamin D.

While sun exposure does lead your body to make its own vitamin D, you can get enough of it from other sources. (Vitamin D is good for your bones, muscles, nerves and immune system.) Vitamin D either occurs naturally or can be found in foods like:

• Beef liver
• Breakfast cereal that’s fortified with vitamin D
• Egg yolks
• Fish such as mackerel, tuna and salmon
• Milk
• Orange juice

You could also consider taking a vitamin D supplement, especially if you’re lactose intolerant, have trouble digesting fat or have darker skin. (Some professionals recommend vitamin D3 supplements over vitamin D2 supplements.)

“We do not have any evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplements from a bottle are less effective than vitamin D generated in the skin from sun exposure,” Dr. Berry says.

Skin cancer myth #7: Just using sunscreen makes you immune to skin cancer.

While skin protection is important, you still need to be vigilant about problems with your skin, especially suspicious moles, sores that don’t heal within 2 weeks, and other abnormalities. Those could all be signs of melanoma.

“We cannot emphasize this enough: A changing growth anywhere on the skin, including areas that have had minimal or no sun exposure, needs to be shown to a medical professional,” Dr. Berry says.

And don’t delay. When melanoma is caught early, the 5-year survival rate is 100%, but that drops to about 75% when the cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes, and 35% when it spreads to other organs.

Bottom line: Now that you know that these myths are just that — myths — you have a much better chance of protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun and avoiding skin cancer. And if you have questions about any of these topics, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor or a specialist.

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For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology. “Skin cancer.” June 4, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer

American Cancer Society. “Key statistics for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.” October 31, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

Baylor College of Medicine. “How to get vitamin D without spending too much time in the sun.” July 20, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.bcm.edu/news/how-to-get-vitamin-d-without-spending-too-much-time-in-the-sun

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What can I do to reduce my risk of skin cancer?” October 26, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/prevention/index.html

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Vitamin D.” March 2023. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/

MedlinePlus. “Skin cancer screening.” December 15, 2022. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/skin-cancer-screening/

National Cancer Institute. “Cancer stat facts: melanoma of the skin.” Retrieved from https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html Accessed June 17, 2024

National Cancer Institute. “Cancer statistics.” May 9, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics

National Cancer Institute. “Skin cancer (including melanoma) — patient version.” Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin Accessed June 17, 2024

National Cancer Institute. “Sun-protective behavior.” March 2024. Retrieved from https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/sun_protection

National Institutes of Health. “Vitamin D.” November 8, 2022. Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/

National Library of Medicine. “Skin cancer prevention.” October 23, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65998/

University of California San Francisco. “Preventing skin cancer.” Retrieved from https://skincancer.ucsf.edu/preventing-skin-cancer Accessed June 17, 2024

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Sunscreen: How to help protect your skin from the sun.” May 17, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun

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