michael

4 years

What are the chances we Malaysian to get skin cancer

Hi doctor, I read in the newspaper that long exposure to sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. As Malaysia is a hot country with almost 12 hours of sunlight, do I always need to wear sun-screen when I’m going outside? And what are the chances we Malaysian to get skin cancer? Thank you.

Dr Ramzdhan,

4 years

Hi, thank you for your question. Yes, you need to put on sunscreen every day, even if you are only going to spend very little time in the sun. Some ultraviolet (UV) rays are able to penetrate glass windows, meaning you are exposed to UV rays while sitting near a window or in a car. You should wear sunscreen even on a cloudy day because up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate the skin.

Fair-skinned people who rarely get tanned need to be extra careful because they are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer.
You should apply sufficient sunscreen to cover all exposed skin 15 minutes before going outdoors. Apply lipsticks or lip balms containing suncreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher as well as skin cancer can form on the lips too. Also, remember to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours, after sweating or swimming as advised on the sunscreen bottle.

Sunscreen protects your skin from premature skin aging, sunburn and skin cancer. However, suncreen alone it not enough. Avoid going outdoors between 10am and 2pm because UV rays are strongest during this period. If you need to go outdoors, seek shade. Wear lightweight long-sleeved tops, trousers, sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats when in the sun.

Be extra careful near water, sand and snow because they reflect the sun’s damaging rays, which increases the risk of developing a sunburn. Other than that, avoid tanning beds. UV rays from tanning beds and the sun can lead to wrinkling of the skin and skin cancer. You may opt for a self-tanning product, but sunscreen is still a must.
In Malaysia, skin cancer is the 10th most common type of cancer and this accounts for 2.6% of all cancer cases.

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