This four-part series on skin cancer and melanoma awareness is presented by Mitchell Hanson and Kanul Malik MD in partnership with celebrity esthetician Ian Michael Crumm, the 2025 #GetNaked spokesperson for the Melanoma Research Foundation. Featuring expert insights from board-certified dermatologists, each article is designed to educate, empower, and inspire our community to prioritize skin health through prevention, early detection, and routine skin checks. Join Ian and the MRF in spreading the message: protect your skin, know the signs, and don’t wait to #GetNaked for your skin exam.
How Does Skin Cancer Happen?
Skin cancer might seem to appear out of nowhere, but it actually happens because of damage to skin cells over time. The sun and tanning beds give off something called ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause skin cancer. The World Health Organization says that UV rays are harmful and can lead to cancer.
Getting sunburned a lot makes it more likely that someone will get skin cancer. Scientists have studied this and found that the more sunburns you have, the higher your risk. There are different types of UV rays, but UVB rays are the main ones that cause sunburn and skin cancer. They can also cause eye problems, like cataracts.
When UV rays go into your skin, they cause tiny reactions inside your cells. Your skin reacts by making more melanin, which is the pigment that makes skin darker (this is what happens when you get a tan). UVB rays go even deeper and can damage your DNA, which is like instructions that tell your cells what to do. If DNA gets too damaged, the cells might start growing the wrong way and turn into cancer.
A good way to think about this is to imagine a tulip growing in a garden. Normally, it grows, blooms, and then wilts. But if something damages it—like too many chemicals—instead of dying, it might instead grow the abnormally, turn into a weed, and take over the whole garden. That’s how cancer happens in the skin.
Where Does UV Exposure Come From?
Most people think UV rays only come from tanning beds or sunny days outside, but it’s more complicated than that. UV rays bounce off different surfaces. For example:
- Sand at the beach reflects 15-18% of UV rays.
- Snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays! That’s why you can still get sunburned in winter.
When asked about advice for those going to these snowy, UV heavy place, Dr. Malik says, “Snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays, meaning you’re getting hit from above and below. Plus, UV intensity increases about 4-5% for every 1,000 feet of elevation, so mountain activities require extra protection. My specific recommendations include: Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50+ sunscreen to all exposed skin 30 minutes before going outdoors, reapply every two hours, or more frequently if sweating heavily, don’t forget often-missed areas (ears, back of neck, under-chin, and lips) . . . wear wraparound sunglasses with UV protection to prevent snow blindness and protect the delicate eye area, consider UV-protective clothing with UPF ratings (which works better than sunscreen alone), wear a hat with a 3-inch brim all around. I emphasize that even on cloudy days up to 80% of UV rays penetrate cloud cover, and the reflection from snow compounds this exposure.” So – snow is some serious business when it comes to sun protection.
Where you are in the world also matters:
- Higher places, like mountains, have stronger UV rays. Every time you go up 1,000 feet, UV exposure increases.
- The closer you are to the equator (the middle of the Earth), the stronger the sun. That means people in places like Brazil get more UV exposure than people in Canada or England.
Myths and Misunderstandings About Sun Protection
❌ MYTH: A base tan protects you from sunburn.
✅ TRUTH: A tan is only like wearing SPF 2 sunscreen. Experts say you should wear at least SPF 30.
❌ MYTH: The time of day doesn’t matter.
✅ TRUTH: The sun is strongest between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. Check your weather app for the UV index to stay safe.
❌ MYTH: If it’s not hot, you won’t get a sunburn.
✅ TRUTH: UV rays don’t cause heat, so you can still get burned on a cloudy, windy, or cold day.
❌ MYTH: People with dark skin don’t need sunscreen.
✅ TRUTH: Anyone can get skin cancer. People with darker skin may not burn as easily, but they often don’t notice skin cancer until it’s more dangerous.
❌ MYTH: Taking breaks while tanning prevents sunburn.
✅ TRUTH: UV damage adds up over time, so even small amounts of tanning or burning can cause problems later.
Dr. Malik also emphasized the importance of sunburns and the like seriously, even as a kid, saying, “Absolutely, we have evidence that experiencing just five blistering sunburns between ages 15-20 increases melanoma risk by 80%. What’s concerning is that DNA damage accumulates over time—it doesn’t reset or heal completely. I explain to patients that childhood and adolescent sun exposure is particularly impactful because young cells divide more frequently, which can amplify DNA damage. Think of each sunburn as leaving tiny ‘mistakes’ in your skin’s instruction manual. While your body repairs many of these, some remain as permanent changes that can lead to cancer decades later. It’s important to tell your dermatologist about your sunburn history, especially severe burns. This information helps us assess your personal risk level and determine appropriate screening intervals. For patients with significant sunburn history, we might recommend more frequent skin checks or additional preventive measures. I also reassure patients that while past sun damage can’t be undone, it’s never too late to improve sun protection habits. Studies show that implementing proper sun protection at any age reduces the risk of developing new skin cancers and can even allow some precancerous changes to revert to normal skin.”
Bottom line is: trust the UV index and monitor where you are and what you’re doing outdoors to know how to keep that skin safe and sexy.
