MELANOMA MYTH- BUSTING

MYTH 1

Darker skin is safe from skin cancer. “Everyone is at risk for melanoma,” says The University of British Columbia’s Dr. Harvey Lui. A U.S. study published last year in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that while melanoma is most common in Caucasians, patients of colour (particularly African-americans) were less likely to survive it.

MYTH 2

SPF is the best way to protect against melanoma. Sunscreen is a must, but it’s not all you should be doing. It’s like safe driving, says Dr. Lui: “Just because you’re wearing a seatbelt doesn’t mean you can drive like a maniac.” You should still limit sun exposure, avoid midday UV (when rays are the strongest) and cover up with a hat and clothing.

MYTH 3

If you don’t get sunburned, there’s no harm done. Even a tan is a sign of DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer. That’s why the only safe bronze is faux. Furthermore, the DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer is caused by both types of rays—uvb (which cause burning) and UVA (which don’t cause burning but are still destructive).