Stay safe in the sun: skin cancer is on the rise for young women in their 20s and 30s. Find out why and what you can do to protect yourself

Shape, May, 2006 by Mary Rose Almasi

When was the last time you had that mole on your back checked? Or that tiny pink bump on your arm that doesn't seem to go away? If never, our advice: Get yourself to a dermatologist now, and every six months to a year for a full-body mole check. Here's why: Skin cancer has more than doubled during the past three decades, particularly for young women like you. The Atlanta-based American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.1 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year, as many as prostate, breast, lung, colon, uterine, ovarian and pancreatic cancers combined.

The most surprising part of this rise: Skin cancer is not solely linked with suspicious moles as many people think; skin cancer can often appear as flesh-colored abnormalities that are less obvious and, at the outset, deceptively normal-looking. While abnormal moles are a sign that you might be at risk for melanoma (the most well-known of the three common skin cancers and also the most fatal), it's often the lesser-known signs of other skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma that are catching women off guard.

"No one knows your body like you do," says Leslie Christenson, M.D., a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Chances are, you do notice [and will notice] when something isn't right." Caught early, there's close to a 100 percent cure rate for skin cancer. The key, say top experts, is early diagnosis, which means you need to show anything suspicious to your doctor.

WHAT'S YOUR RISK?

Knowing your chances of getting skin cancer can help you be even more careful. In fact, researchers have found new clues that can shed light on who needs to be on high alert for skin changes that can signal a developing skin cancer.

It runs in your family. Genetics may predispose you to being more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, which explains why skin cancer is more common in some families and not others.

Also, don't be fooled into thinking that if you have darker skin, you're more protected. Research from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles discovered a rise in melanoma rates among Hispanics. This study disputes prior thinking that darker skin tones are less prone to damage because of their skin's extra melanin, the naturally sun-protective pigment that gives skin its color.

"All of this suggests that besides time spent in the sun--a key factor for sure--there is something else at play, and research points to a genetic link," explains Carol A. Rosenberg, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

You're a true sun lover. It was always thought that women did most of their sun damage before age 18. But now it's not just your teenage beach time that matters; it's everyday exposure throughout your life that counts too. And that includes outdoor sports, not just time spent in your bikini.

A study from the University of Cincinnati found that most team athletes don't use SPF during workouts. "When you think about the time they spend outside, it seems likely that they are at higher risk for skin cancers later in life," says Brian B. Adams, M.D., MPH, a sports dermatologist who led that study.

You've already had skin cancer. A new study co-authored by Northwestern's Rosenberg suggests that women with a single incidence of nonmelanoma cancer have an elevated risk of melanoma in the future. "We found that melanoma rates more than doubled for those people," says Rosenberg, a lead researcher for the study.

There's ovarian cancer in your family. A surprising chromosomal link between this cancer and melanoma seems to exist. "Women who have had nonmelanoma skin cancer and have a family history of ovarian cancer should be more vigilant about monthly skin self-exams and annual exams," says Rosenberg, "including doctor-supervised mole checks."

RELATED ARTICLE: MAKING SENSE OF SKIN CANCER

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

These slow-growing cancers tend to develop on sun-exposed areas like the face, lips, ears, chest and hands. They often appear as a small red, pink or pearly bump, or a sore that won't heal.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

These also tend to show up on sun-exposed areas and can look like crusty reddish patches. They're more aggressive than basal cell and can spread to lymph nodes.

MELANOMA

These are usually brown, black or bluish, but some are flesh-toned or look like cuts that don't heal. Only about 4 percent of skin cancers are melanoma, but it's the most deadly.

--MAUREEN CONNOLY

LOG ON: The Skin Cancer Foundation (skincancer.org), the American Academy of Dermatology (add.org) and the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) all offer more information about skin cancer and treatment options.

RELATED ARTICLE: the 3 best prevention tactics

* Use sunscreen religiously. Look for the key wording, "broad-spectrum protection," which means a product protects against ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays. UVA is thought to be responsible for skin's premature aging (which shows up as wrinkles and age spots) and UVB for changes that can lead to skin cancer.