Melanoma, a form of cancer that begins in the cells that make melanin, is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), 76, 690 new cases of melanoma were discovered this year. Nine thousand four hundred eighty of these cases resulted in death.
Human skin has three layers: the epidermis, dermis and fat. Cells in the epidermis produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin and eyes color. The higher the concentration of melanin results in darker skin.
Melanin helps protect the skin against the effects of the sun. Melanin provides a sun protection factor (SPF) for skin. However, the more melanin a type of skin can produce determines how much protection the skin needs. Dark skin has an SPF approximately equivalent to 13.4; light skin has an SPF approximately equivalent to 3.4.
According to the NCI, skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy among Caucasians. Their inherently light skin color and low amounts of melanin leave them vulnerable to the sun’s cancer-causing ultraviolet rays.
Regardless of skin color, everyone is at risk for skin cancer. Chronic exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, tanning and sunburns are all contributors to the increase of the risk of cancer.
Senior Meryl Tagata-Mindo said, “I usually do not apply sun screen when I go to the beach or when I am outside. I thought that since I have darker skin, I would never be at risk of skin cancer.”
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer for males and the seventh most common cancer for females.
Precautions include avoiding intense sun exposure by remaining indoors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Outside, one should wear a hat, long sleeves and sunglasses. It is crucial to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher whenever one is outside. Although it may seem unnecessary during winter or when the sky is cloudy, skin absorbs UV radiation year-round and clouds offer little protection from the damaging rays.
Spanish teacher Susan Solomine who is from New York said, “Since I have moved to Hawaii, I have become more active in taking precautions to avoid developing skin cancer.”
With the year-round tropical weather in Hawaii, one must be extra cautious with skin care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 23 percent of people who live in Hawaii are bound to develop melanoma.
Math teacher Deborah Kula, who has skin cancer said, “When I was younger, I used to go to the beach all the time. I never took skin care seriously and now I have skin cancer. The only advice I can give to people is to protect their skin with sunscreen every time they are outside.”
