If you regularly check your arms, legs and face for signs of skin cancer, you’ve taken a step in the right direction. You’re halfway there to ensure you spot any sign of skin cancer early.
But skin cancer can be deceptive and hide in spots on your body you might not expect — even in areas that don’t get much sun. Our AdventHealth experts are here to advise you on some of the hard-to-spot areas where skin cancer can hide.
Your Eyes and Eyelids
The best way to look for skin cancer near your eyes is keeping an eye (no pun intended) on any new or growing spots around the eyelids. You might notice dark spots in the colored iris around your pupil.
As far as your vision is concerned, cancer can cause blurry or spotty vision. One of the best ways to protect your eyes from skin cancer is to wear sunglasses that protect from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Don’t forget your eyelids when you’re applying sunscreen.
Your Scalp
If your hair is lighter colored, thinning or if you have a bald spot, you are more at risk for skin cancer on your scalp. However, even if you have dark, thick hair, you could still experience sun damage on your part. The best way to prevent sun exposure to your scalp is to wear a hat. You can also carefully apply sunscreen to those areas. Look for any new, bleeding or changing spots on your scalp when you’re checking for skin cancer.
Under a Tattoo
As the weather gets warmer, you may want to show off your body art. However, the ink on colorful tattoos can often make it hard to see whether skin cancer is growing underneath the art. Remember to always cover your tattoos with sunscreen, too.
Under Fingernails or Toenails
While skin cancer under a nail is rare, it’s still possible, and most likely to occur under the nail on your thumb or big toe. You may mistake it for a bruise that isn’t healing. If you often wear nail polish, you should periodically remove it to check that nothing is developing under the polish.
Between Your Toes
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t spend much time checking carefully between your toes. However, skin cancers can form in those tucked-in areas — and can grow more concerning the longer they go unnoticed. Apply sunscreen in between your toes — especially when you will be lying horizontally in the sun for a while.
Physical vs. Chemical Sunscreen
There are two different types of sunscreens people use to protect themselves from the sun: physical and chemical.
Physical Sunscreen
Physical sunscreens, more commonly known as mineral sunscreens, work by creating a physical barrier on the skin that shields it from the sun. You can think of physical sunscreen as a shield.
These sunscreens deliver broad-spectrum protection by reflecting radiation away from your skin. They also help ward off UVA-related skin damage, including dark patches and wrinkles.
The only downside is that they can be difficult to spread and leave your skin looking white, but those outweigh the protective health benefits you’ll receive. Be sure to reapply as needed because physical sunscreens aren’t always water-resistant.
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, are like sponges. They don’t sit on the skin or block rays. Instead, they feature active ingredients that absorb UV rays before your skin can soak them up. These chemical UV filters include:
- Avobenzone
- Homosalate
- Octinoxate
- Octisalate
- Octocrylene
- Oxybenzone
In most cases, chemical sunscreens don’t leave a visible film layer on the skin, which makes them easier to wear on a broader range of skin tones.
Most people prefer chemical sunscreens, simply because they’re easier to apply and wear. Chemical sunscreens are designed for absorption, so they tend to go on smoothly without feeling sticky or greasy, and they don’t leave the telltale white cast like physical sunscreen does.
Remember that you should be applying one ounce of sunscreen, or enough to fill a shot glass, to your entire body every time you go out in the sun.
Schedule Your Skin Cancer Screening
Skin care is often overlooked as part of health care, but it’s important to make it a priority. Early detection of skin cancer gives you the greatest likelihood of successful skin cancer treatment.
Have you noticed any worrisome changes to your skin? It’s better to be safe than sorry. Schedule an appointment for your skin cancer screening today.
