How Long It Takes For A Sunburn To Turn Into Skin Cancer

Sure, you like to get a tan every summer, or maybe you’ve been known to indulge in a few tanning-bed sessions before a big event or winter vacation. But as long as your skin looks good now, you’re doing fine, right? Uh, nope.

No matter how lovely you look today, your skin could already be in danger from slow-growing non-melanoma basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or other forms of skin cancer.

“A tan may look good to you now, but later you’ll regret it when you have to have surgeries on your face and body to remove skin cancer,” said dermatologist Dr. Claire Wolinsky.

The regret is real, said dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. “It’s important to realize that there’s no such thing as a healthy tan, even if you aren’t burning, since tanning is a defense mechanism that gets turned on when the DNA of skin cells is damaged by UV radiation.”

When you look in the mirror and like what you see, it can be hard to imagine the possibility of skin cancer, said dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman, but it can happen. “Younger skin is more resilient than older skin, so someone who gets sunburned in their 30s will likely see it clear up and resolve itself much quicker than someone in their 60s. Think of it this way — all the time you spend on your skin care routine, and the money you spend on skin care products, means very little unless you’re protecting your skin from the sun.”

“Skin cancer is often a slow-developing disease, meaning it can take years, even decades, for the effects of sun exposure to manifest as cancerous lesions,” said dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Saami Khalifian. “Most basal cell carcinomas, for example, are a result of chronic sun exposure, and they can take anywhere from 15 to 30 years to develop.”

“Skin cancer is an accumulation of DNA abnormalities and DNA damage, so it could take many, many years to detect,” said dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry. “You need to remember that your skin never forgets any exposure to the sun.”

If you’re thinking that the odds are on your side, think again. “There are several million cases of basal cell carcinoma diagnosed each year in the United States alone,” Dr. Khalifian said. And with BCC skin cancer cases increasing by 10% every year, people who are 30 now are more at risk than their parents and grandparents ever were.

It’s just this simple, according to the experts we talked with: Don’t ever, ever leave the house without wearing sunscreen. If you think it’s only a summertime or sunny day necessity, you’re already on the wrong track, said dermatologist Dr. Mina Amin. “Wear it every day, all year round, regardless of the weather or temperature,” she said.

When you’re shopping, read sunscreen labels, Khalifian said: “Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, ideally with iron oxide tint to also block out visible light, which can lead to melasma and other brown pigmentation of the skin.” And don’t be shy about applying and reapplying. “Slather on your sunscreen, and use lots of it,” Henry said. “It’s always better to be proactive than reactive.”

Once you’ve applied sunscreen, you can’t just check out, said Dr. Abrahem Kazemi. “Plan ahead so it’s applied 15 minutes prior to leaving your home, and then reapply it every two hours when you’re outdoors in direct sunlight.”

Consistency matters a great deal, these dermatologists said. “Studies have tracked the skin of people who used sunscreen every day, regardless of the weather or their daily activities, compared to people who only used sunscreen on days that were particularly sunny, when they’d be spending significant time outside,” King said. “Those who used sunscreen every day had skin that aged significantly better.”

Even if a car seems like an enclosed space, you shouldn’t drive without sunscreen. “I often see more sun damage on the left side of the face compared to the right side, because the sun can cause damage on the road,” Amin said. (Antipodean side note: King pointed out that in Australia, where they drive on the other side of the road, “people tend to have more sun damage on their right side.”)

In addition to sunscreen, you might want to start using a topical antioxidant with vitamin C. “Apply it first thing in the morning after cleansing,” said aesthetic physician Dr. Rachel Reyes-Bergano. “This will help fight oxidative stress brought on by UV exposure.”

One of the most important commitments you can make is to never, ever get another sunburn. “Just five or more sunburns in your lifetime can double your risk of developing melanoma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD),” Khalifian said. You’re making a big mistake if you aren’t wearing a hat, sunglasses and long sleeves when you go outside. “If you don’t have protection like that, you can increase your skin’s exposure to harmful UV rays, further contributing to the cumulative damage over time,” he added.

More tips? Never sit out directly in the sun, Wolinsky said. And, if you really love how you look with a tan, she suggested self-tanner instead of using a tanning bed. Dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp said that tanning beds can increase the risk of developing basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma skin cancer. “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the WHO’s International Agency of Research on Cancer panel have declared ultraviolet radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, to be a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance,” he said.

Wolinsky cited this experience from her own practice: “My patients who develop skin cancer are often upset that they weren’t more careful with sun exposure in their youth. And those folks are also prime candidates for sun spots, enlarged pores and poor skin texture, too.”

No matter your age, Camp said, it’s important not just to follow these guidelines, but also to have regular skin checks. “For early detection, consult with a board-certified dermatologist to evaluate existing and changing moles and skin growths.” Hartman added that some people might want to do even more: “If you’ve had skin cancer in the past, or have a family history of skin cancer, you should get your skin checked more frequently throughout the year.”

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