Surely everybody knows by now that exposure to the ultraviolet rays from the sun can pose a risk for developing skin cancer. Or do they? It seems that some cities are smarter when it comes to sun protection and skin cancer risks than others. An on-line poll conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that three cities had more sun sense than others. The “Suntelligence: How Smart is your City” survey found that Hartford, Salt Lake City, and Denver ranked the highest as far as following skin cancer expert’s advice on preventing and detecting skin cancer.My hometown of Pittsburgh, PA was found to be the lowest ranking city with regard to knowledge about skin cancer prevention and Cleveland and Chicago were also at the bottom of the list.
The survey polled over 7,000 respondents from across the nation to answer questions such as whether or not some types of ultraviolet rays are safe for your skin. Surprisingly, only 42 percent of the top ranked city (Hartford) participants understood that this is not true. In fact, all forms of UV light exposure including sunlight and artificial light from tanning beds can pose a risk for the future development of skin cancer. The nationwide average for answering this question correctly was only 35 percent. This is a frightening statistic considering how much time has been invested in getting the word out that the use of tanning beds can considerably increase your risk of developing a malignant melanoma.
Here are some other surprising statistics gleaned from this survey:
• 59% of poll participants nationwide have never had an annual skin cancer screening by their doctor or dermatologist.
• 69% of people polled from Pittsburgh have never had a skin cancer examination.
• 81% of Pittsburgers believe that people look more attractive with a tan. 72% of the total respondents agreed.
The results of this survey show that there is still a lot of work to do to get the word out about skin cancer prevention. We are here to help. The following Skin Care Connection articles tell you how you can greatly reduce your risk for developing skin cancers including deadly melanomas. Help spread the word about skin cancer prevention!
• How to Prevent Skin Cancer from Returning
• Five Easy Ways to Protect Your Skin from Skin Cancer
• Five Ways to Detect Melanoma Early
