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Summer is the Pacific Northwest’s best-kept secret. The endless clear skies, warm weather and low humidity make it hard to stay inside. If you’re like a lot of men, you’re already planning your outdoor beach lounges and hikes — but don’t forget to prioritize skin protection when you pack the essentials.
The women in your life likely already have their skin protection technique perfected, which gives them a leg up since so many of their moisturizers and makeup products already contain a small amount of SPF, plus they’re more likely to add sunscreen to their skincare routine.
But here’s the thing: Skin cancer doesn’t care about gender. The fact is, men are more likely than women not only to develop skin cancer, but also to die from melanoma, aka the most dangerous skin cancer.
Is this just the way it is? Not necessarily. You can do plenty of things today to reduce your melanoma risk — and still enjoy the PNW sun, too.
What is melanoma?
Cancer develops when your body’s cells mutate and grow out of control. Your skin — which is, believe it or not, the largest organ of the body — is also susceptible to developing cancers.
Your skin protects the rest of your body from outside factors like heat and the sun’s rays. Your skin has cells called melanocytes, which give its pigmentation. Sunlight stimulates your melanocytes to make more melanin, which is why your skin darkens when you spend time in the sun.
Unfortunately, these melanocytes can also mutate and grow out of control, resulting in melanoma. Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, but it can be more dangerous because it’s more likely to grow into the deeper layers of your skin and spread to other parts of your body.
Why melanoma affects more men than women
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) reports that melanoma affects men and women differently. After 50, men are more likely to develop melanoma than women, and the likelihood only increases the older you get. There are a few reasons for this.
Lack of education
“Men may know less about skin cancer and, compared to women, have less engagement in preventive health behaviors,” says S. Max Vale, MD, a dermatologist at UW Medicine Primary Care at South Lake Union. “Beauty and health campaigns that emphasize sunscreen often preferentially target female consumers, as well.”
When you consider that men are more likely to believe common myths like there is such a thing as a “healthy tan,” it’s no surprise that some men are less likely to use sunscreen, seek shade or wear sun protective clothing.
“It’s unfortunate, considering that men are more likely to spend more time outdoors than women,” says Vale.
Differences in body composition
Vale says males have thicker skin than women (literally, not figuratively), with more elastin and collagen and less subcutaneous fat. Although more studies are needed to understand exactly how that impacts your skin cancer risk, it’s possible that this may result in your skin reacting more intensely to ultraviolet (UV) light. Estrogen levels also play a role.
“Higher estrogen levels are associated with a better immune response to melanoma and melanoma survival,” says Vale. “Men tend to have lower estrogen levels than women.”
Behavioral differences
Let’s face it — it’s no secret that women are more likely to get regular check-ups from their doctors.
“Men are, at the baseline, less likely to see a doctor, potentially delaying care,” says Vale. “In Washington, melanoma incidence and mortality are highest among white men over age 50.”
Men might also be less likely to check hard-to-reach spots like your back, scalp and ears, where you’re more likely to have sun exposure.
6 ways men can protect their skin from melanoma
At the end of the day, cancer is not your fault. There’s no perfect recipe to eradicate your risk completely. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what you can to mitigate that risk. And if you are unlucky enough to develop skin cancer, catching it early can make all the difference.
Wear sunscreen
Everyone says it, because it’s true: Wearing sunscreen helps protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
“I recommend wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or greater, daily, year-round, even on cloudy days,” says Vale. “The easiest way to do this is to build it into your morning routine after washing your face.”
Make sure you’re using enough sunscreen, too — just a dollop isn’t enough in this case. Vale says that in order to get the SPF value listed on the bottle, it takes 1 ounce (think: a full shot glass) of sunscreen on average to cover the entire body. Be sure to reapply every two to four hours if you’ll be outside for a prolonged period.
Wear protective clothing
Whether you’re rockin’ a beach bod or a dad bod — both equally awesome and summer-ready — try to keep it covered when you can. It might not be realistic when you’re at the pool, but if you’re on a hike, working in the garden or just going for a walk in the sunshine, you should rock some protective clothing, too.
“Long-sleeved lightweight shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with UV protection all count as protective clothing,” says Vale. “Clothes with UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, are the most effective option and are graded for sun exposure.”
Opt out of the tan
In 2016, the AAD reported that only 54% of men knew that having a base tan does not protect you from the sun’s harmful rays, as opposed to 70% of women who knew this to be true.
Vale says to avoid tanning beds at all costs and try self-tanning products, such as lotions or oils, if you want to look tan.
Be mindful of your environment
Avoid direct sunlight during peak UV hours, from around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stay indoors, or if you’re outside, find some shade. Also, if your favorite summer activities require you to be on the water — like boating, paddleboarding or kayaking — don’t forget that water reflects UV rays back up to you.
“Activities at higher elevations, like in the mountains, also increase UV exposure,” Vale says.
Keep an eye on your skin
Self-exams are the best way to detect skin cancers early, when they are most easily treated. Vale recommends doing them regularly, not just during the summer months.
“For patients with many moles or those at higher risk for skin cancer, a monthly skin self-examination may be smart,” says Vale. “However, looking over your skin every two to three months is likely fine for most people.”
Wondering how to do a self-exam?
- Find a full-length mirror or a hand mirror in a well-lit room
- Look at your sides with your arms raised
- Check between your toes and on the bottoms of your hands and feet
- Use a hand mirror to look at your scalp (part your hair), neck, back and buttocks
Vale says you’re looking for any new “funny moles” (aka moles that are asymmetrical, have uneven borders or are different shades of brown, tan or red), spots or growths.
“I encourage patients to take photos of what they find so they can check them over time for changes, and bring what they find to their doctor,” he says.
Know your risk
And speaking of doctors, please go, especially if you’re 50 or older. All you need to do is start the conversation.
“We know that white men over 50 are at especially high risk for developing and dying of melanoma,” says Vale. “Based on this, I recommend an annual full-body skin examination by a dermatologist for individuals at higher risk of skin cancer.”
This includes patients with an immediate relative with melanoma, patients who have a history of blistering burns or tanning bed use, those with a personal history of skin cancer, those with numerous moles and fair-skinned men over age 50.
If you’re outside this demographic, just keep an eye out for any changes to your skin during your self-examinations. Younger men can get melanoma, and so can men who aren’t white.
In fact, Black men, specifically, are less likely to get a melanoma diagnosis until the disease is in its later stages, because the disease is often missed on darker skin, in addition to the other reasons above. Melanoma can often occur on the soles of your feet, on your fingers, toes and nail beds in people with darker skin. Remember to check those spots, too.
Remember: skin protection is year-round
Don’t forget: Just because you can’t see the sun, doesn’t mean that your skin isn’t being affected by its UV rays. If you’re here in the PNW, this is important to remember … most months of the year.
“Overcast skies create a false sense of security,” says Vale. “Yet, 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet light penetrates cloud cover. I always remind my patients that their skin is vulnerable even on a cloudy or rainy Seattle day.”
The bit about the sun’s rays reflecting off water? That also applies to snow, too. If you like to ski in winter, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen. And in the meantime, enjoy the sun — but with extra protection, or in the shade, if you can.
