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Stash some sunscreen in your glove compartment. Drivers in the U.S. are more likely to develop cancer on the left side of their bodies, according to a recent study from the University of Washington in Seattle.
When melanoma occurred on one side of the body, 52 percent of cases were on the left, the study found. The culprit, in part: Sticking your arm out the window while at the wheel, researchers say.
Here are other surprisingly common skin cancer spots—and how you can stop them from being exposed.
Your Eyes
The Danger: According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancers found on the eyelid account for as many as 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers. “Cancer near the eyes can end up being a bit more aggressive because many mistake early cancer signs as a sty, an eye infection, or even a patch of inflammation of the skin,” says dermatologist Susan Butler, M.D., of the California Skin Institute.
Protect Yourself: Make sure that the sunglasses have the ability to block out 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB light. And avoid small glasses—go for a large frame, like aviators, to prevent light from creeping in.
The Top of Your Head
The Danger: “As guys get older, their hair thins, which results in less protection against the sun,” says Scott W. Fosko, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. The most common type of cancer found on the head is basal cell carcinoma, which looks like a raised or rough scab-like spot on the scalp, Fosko says. The spot can form a sore through irritation (like rubbing it with a towel) or bleed spontaneously.
Protect Yourself: Never leave home without a hat—especially if your strands are thinning. Aim for one with at least a 4-inch rim or a large bill. Fosko suggests companies like Wallaroo and San Diego Hat Co., both of which make hats with sun protection built into the fabric.
Butler also recommends using a spray-on sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. That way, you can protect your scalp without having a bunch of goop in your hair.
Your Lips
The Danger: Your lips don’t just get action when you kiss—they also burn up under the sun. Your lower lip is especially helpless because it receives more direct sunlight than your upper lip, Butler says.
Protect Yourself: Use lip balm, and use it often. The Skin Cancer Foundation lists numerous lip balms that have adequate SPF protection, like Avon’s Anew Solar Advance Lip Sunscreen SPF 30, Rite Aid’s Rx Suncare SPF 45 Lip Balm, and Banana Boat’s Sport Performance Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50.
Here’s one general rule-of-thumb any time you’re squirting on sunscreen: When trying to determine how much lotion to use, apply the equivalent of a shot glass, says Elizabeth Hale, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical professor at NYU’s Langone Medical Center. That’s if you’re going to the beach and your arms, legs, chest, back, and face will be exposed.
When melanoma occurred on one side of the body, 52 percent of cases were on the left, the study found. The culprit, in part: Sticking your arm out the window while at the wheel, researchers say.
Here are other surprisingly common skin cancer spots—and how you can stop them from being exposed.
Your Eyes
The Danger: According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancers found on the eyelid account for as many as 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers. “Cancer near the eyes can end up being a bit more aggressive because many mistake early cancer signs as a sty, an eye infection, or even a patch of inflammation of the skin,” says dermatologist Susan Butler, M.D., of the California Skin Institute.
Protect Yourself: Make sure that the sunglasses have the ability to block out 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB light. And avoid small glasses—go for a large frame, like aviators, to prevent light from creeping in.
The Top of Your Head
The Danger: “As guys get older, their hair thins, which results in less protection against the sun,” says Scott W. Fosko, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. The most common type of cancer found on the head is basal cell carcinoma, which looks like a raised or rough scab-like spot on the scalp, Fosko says. The spot can form a sore through irritation (like rubbing it with a towel) or bleed spontaneously.
Protect Yourself: Never leave home without a hat—especially if your strands are thinning. Aim for one with at least a 4-inch rim or a large bill. Fosko suggests companies like Wallaroo and San Diego Hat Co., both of which make hats with sun protection built into the fabric.
Butler also recommends using a spray-on sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. That way, you can protect your scalp without having a bunch of goop in your hair.
Your Lips
The Danger: Your lips don’t just get action when you kiss—they also burn up under the sun. Your lower lip is especially helpless because it receives more direct sunlight than your upper lip, Butler says.
Protect Yourself: Use lip balm, and use it often. The Skin Cancer Foundation lists numerous lip balms that have adequate SPF protection, like Avon’s Anew Solar Advance Lip Sunscreen SPF 30, Rite Aid’s Rx Suncare SPF 45 Lip Balm, and Banana Boat’s Sport Performance Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50.
Here’s one general rule-of-thumb any time you’re squirting on sunscreen: When trying to determine how much lotion to use, apply the equivalent of a shot glass, says Elizabeth Hale, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical professor at NYU’s Langone Medical Center. That’s if you’re going to the beach and your arms, legs, chest, back, and face will be exposed.
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