Protecting your body's biggest organ

What’s your body’s biggest organ? You might have a big heart, but your biggest organ is your skin! In Florida, your skin gets plenty of exposure. Sun exposure not only greatly increases wrinkles, but also increases your risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer. Across the U.S., one in five people will develop some form of skin cancer in his or her lifetime, mostly due to sun exposure. The rate of skin cancer has been increasing over the past 10 years. One reason for this is that the ozone layer is damaged by some of the “miracle” chemicals we have used. This reduces the earth’s atmospheric protection, so more of the damaging rays from the sun get to us.

The most common form of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinomas typically look like open sores, red patches or scars. They are fairly easy to treat if found early, so don’t delay having a health professional assess a sore that just won’t heal.

Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer, may look like red patches, open sores or elevated growths with a dent in the middle. These cancer cells can grow anywhere on your body including the inside of your mouth and where the sun doesn’t shine, but most often they are in the areas with the most sun exposure, such as the tip of your ear, your lips, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs.

The most pernicious skin cancer is melanoma. In the past 20 years, the number of people diagnosed with this deadly cancer has more than doubled. Florida has the second highest rate, after California, of melanoma cases in the nation.

Get your skin checked regularly so cancers can be spotted early. Check your skin for any of these warning signs:

• Asymmetry: one half does not match the other half

• Bumpy border: the edges are ragged, not smooth

• Color contrast: varied shades of tan, black, brown

• Diameter: great than 1/4 inch

• Evolving: changes in size, shape, color or bleeding, itching, or tenderness

While family history of skin cancer increases your risk, most skin cancers are preventable. The best prevention is to limit your exposure to the sun. Use daily skin cream with SPF. Use sunblock (SPF 15-25 is good) when you are going to be out in the sun for more than a few minutes. Wear those stylish hats, with the classy wide brims covering your face and the back of your neck. Go out in the sun, on lakes, or the beach before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. You also can miss the intense Central Florida heat, the pop-up rain showers and the crowds at those hours. It is also important to protect eyes from the sun with sunglasses. It is especially helpful to avoid getting a sunburn. Those blistering sunburns you get when you are in the sun without protection greatly increase your skin cancer risks.

Maitland resident Nancy Rudner Lugo is a nurse practitioner and president of Health Action, offering workplace health consulting and nurse coaching. Visit www.healthaction.biz