It is currently estimated that an astonishing one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Individuals that live in the sunny state of Florida need to be even more vigilant about protecting their skin from skin cancer because of the year-round sun exposure that they face.
As a whole, Florida residents are pretty successful at protecting their skin from the harsh rays of the sun. Since Florida is fairly sunny for most of the year, residents are often more aware of its presence than those who live in other states. Even so, it is often still a common misconception that the risk of exposure to the sun is lessened or eliminated on the few cloudy, cold winter days in the state.
In reality, the sun exposure that can lead to the development of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma is present year-round. Even on cloudy and cold days, roughly 90% of the sun’s rays still penetrate through the clouds, exposing individuals to UVA and UVB rays. While Florida residents don’t have to worry about dealing with snow in their home state, it is important for them to realize that when traveling further north where they may encounter snow, the sunlight reflecting off of snow can actually double the strength of its UV rays.
In short, when it comes to protecting your skin from skin cancer, it’s usually better to be safe than sorry. It is important for people to wear a daily sunscreen regardless of the time of year, weather, or temperature outside.
If you suspect that you may have skin cancer or are just seeking the peace of mind that evaluating your skin health can provide, you may want to schedule a skin cancer screening. During a skin cancer screening, a trained medical professional will conduct a full-body visual examination of your skin. The key part of this evaluation is assessing any skin growths that you may currently have and gauging how likely they are to be cancerous or precancerous.
If you’re looking for a place to undergo a skin cancer screening near the Windermere, Bay Hill, Gotha, and Dr. Phillips areas of Florida, we can help. Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center is committed to providing patients in this area with the skin cancer screenings and care they need to promote skin health and wellness. Contact us today to schedule your very own skin cancer screening. We look forward to hearing from you!