I’m a Doctor – These Are the Four Body Parts People Forget to Apply Sunscreen On, Putting Them at Higher Risk of Skin Cancer
If, like most people, you only apply sunscreen, you may not be doing it right.
Dermatologists are warning on social media that many people forget to apply lotion to four parts of the body that are prone to skin cancer.
These are the backs of the hands, ears, scalp and neck.
Dr. Neera Nathan, a Harvard-trained skin cancer surgeon, shared a TikTok with over 680,000 views, saying she removes cancer cells from these areas daily.
Many people who regularly use sunscreen forget the areas that are directly exposed to the sun, such as the ears, neck, scalp and hands, experts say
Because these areas are often directly exposed to sunlight, they are particularly dangerous to overlook.
“Most people put sunscreen on their face and don’t realize it’s happening, and they’re often in direct sunlight,” Dr. Nathan said Newsweek.
Dr. David KimA Stanford-trained dermatologist from New York agreed, saying the ears are the most common place people forget to apply sunscreen, followed by the scalp and hands.
He said that while he was studying medicine, he regularly discovered skin cancer on the ears of outdoor athletes who trained without sunscreen.
Social media users filled the comments section of the dermatologists’ videos.
“I’m just gonna jump in a puddle of sunscreen,” TikTok user gabybee said in Dr. Kim’s video.
“Scalp!??? Oh my god I didn’t know that!” TikTok user Britt.will7 said in Dr. Nathan’s video.
“Oh, I’m just not going out,” said user SparkeZ.
Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, even in areas not exposed to the sun.
Regular, direct exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which damages cells, significantly increases the risk of developing a cancer-causing mutation.
According to the U.S. government, more than 80 percent of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. Worldwide cancer research.
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
The severity and risk of death vary by condition, but if detected early enough, they can often be successfully treated with surgery.
Yet an estimated 20 Americans die from skin cancer every day, and more than 8,000 are expected to die by 2024, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
About 13 percent of skin cancers occur on the scalp, according to a 2018 study from the Paracelsus Medical University in Austria.
Only one to two percent develop into malignant skin cancer, which spreads to other parts of the body.
Common symptoms of skin cancer include discolored skin, an itchy or bleeding area, a pink bump with a hard surface, and a sore that doesn’t go away, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Another way to prevent skin cancer is to keep an eye on your moles and freckles for the ABCDE of melanoma.
You should look out for asymmetrical moles, moles with unclear borders, moles with strange colors, moles with a large diameter, and moles that evolve in shape or size.
The best way to protect yourself from this condition is to wear sunscreen and protective clothing when out in the sun, especially around midday when the sun is at its highest, Dr. Nathan says.
A spray-on sunscreen should be especially effective on the scalp, and may bypass the hair follicles, she said, adding, “I recommend a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) SPF 30 or higher that is water-resistant. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours.”
