How to Protect Your Skin After a Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Protecting your skin after you've been diagnosed with one of the three major types of skin cancer is of paramount importance to the success of your treatment. Malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are usually caused by exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and further exposure may reduce the effectiveness of medical procedures such as chemotherapy, radiation treatment and surgery.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Oncologist or dermatologist

Protect Your Skin After a Skin Cancer Diagnosis

1. Protect your skin during the day by wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves, hats and sunglasses. Remember that the sun's ultraviolet rays can penetrate both cloud cover and water.
2. Use sunscreens and lip balms to further protect your skin. Sunscreens should have an SPF rating of at least 15.
3. Avoid tanning beds and heatlamps at tanning salons. The ultraviolet rays in heatlamps, known as UV-A rays, can penetrate the skin deeper than UV-B rays, which come from sunlight.
4. Consider taking a Vitamin A or D supplement, or use dairy products that have been enriched with those two vitamins. Most people get Vitamin A and D from normal exposure to the sunlight, so a person being treated for skin cancer might become deficient.
5. Consult with your oncologist or dermatologist during a follow-up exam about any further precautions you should take to protect your skin. Ask about specific creams and moisturizers that may be effective against the dryness that can result from treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• The Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities protects your ability to know all of your treatment options, your right to make all of your decisions in regards to your medical treatment and your right to confidentiality.
• Consider seeking a second opinion after receiving a diagnosis for skin cancer. This is in no way disrespectful to your doctor, but will ensure that you are well informed about your condition.
• A skin cancer diagnosis can affect you in emotional and psychological ways, possibly impairing your abilities to carry on with your life. Discuss with your physician some of your options in dealing with trauma, such as counseling or prescription medication.