Question

Sue loved the outdoors. She would often lie with her friends in the sun to work on that "healthy" tan, even though she had red hair and fair skin that freckled. She would get sunburned every so often, but thought it was no big deal. She used tanning beds once in a while, mainly just before summer because she wanted to look better in a bathing suit. Sue swam frequently with her friends, and also gave summer swimming lessons in an outdoor pool. As she got older, parts of Sue's skin began to take on a somewhat leathery appearance, but she figured that that was part of the normal aging process. She went to the dermatologist regularly, and from time to time he would remove some pre-cancerous cells, but always said that they were nothing to worry about. When the dermatologist found malignant melanoma on her leg, Sue was shocked; she had never considered herself particularly at risk for skin cancer. She had no idea how it might change her life.

Sunlight is an important source of Vitamin D, and we need daily exposure to sunlight for mental health and other reasons. We constantly expose our skin — the largest organ of the human body — to sunlight, a source of UV radiation. UV radiation has cumulative effects, which means that each exposure to sunlight adds to previous exposure.

Conclusions:

What should Sue have been doing to minimize her risk for cancer?

Given her lifestyle, what precautions should she have taken? Would you have recommended changes in her lifestyle?

What do you think of artificial tanning — is it safer or less safe than time spent in the sun? What about new "self-tanning" products?

Answer 1

1. Sue have been going to dermatologist regularly and screening out cancer cells and have been also removing pre cancerous cells which prevents from risk of cancer.  

2. PRECAUTIONS SUE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN :

• Sue should have limit the sun exposure.
• Using sun screen before exposing to sun with SPF 15 or higher.
• Wearing long sleeves and pants which covers the body.

I would recommend her to change in the lifestyle as she is white which is one of the risk factor for skin cancer, she is more prone to develop skin cancer.

3. ARTIFICIAL TANNING :

Artificial tanning or natural sun exposure both are not good for the skin, however if we need to compare between both according to me natural sun exposure is more hhealthy than aritificial tanning as in case of time spent in sun you are also benefitted with certain vitamins like vitamin D and it can also be healthy if the exposure is limited.

SELF TANNING PRODUCTS :

New self tanning products which comes in lotion apparently has no side effects of skin cancer, so I think it is safe.