In case you needed another reminder to wear sunscreen: this is it! And if you’re making sure that you’re regularly applying it, that’s awesome! Unfortunately, however, skin cancer can still sometimes happen.
Find out why — and which hidden parts of your body are also susceptible to skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Causes
We’re often told to wear sunscreen. Because if we don’t, skin damage can happen. When it does, the body has to work to heal it. For the body to heal the damaged skin, new skin cells have to be produced. However, sometimes, the body rapidly overproduces skin cells, and it can cause non-cancerous — or “benign” — tumors. But in some instances, abnormal skin cells are produced by the body — that’s when it can become cancerous or “malignant.”
There are three recognized types of skin cancer — Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Most of the time, skin cancer is caused by UV (ultraviolet) exposure — such as exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. However, there are also other factors that can cause the disease.
Here are some of them:
- Exposure to radiation therapy
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Smoking tobacco
- Living in the mountains or other high-altitude locations
- Has a family history of skin cancer
- Having been treated (or is being treated) for psoriasis or eczema — due to exposure to Ultraviolet Light Therapy
- Have plenty of moles — or irregularly shaped ones
- Have actinic keratosis
- Have light-colored eyes
- Have naturally light-colored hair — like blonde or red
- Have freckles
- Is always outdoors
- Have the type of skin that’s easily sunburnt
*Doctors advise that you be aware of the state of your skin — and that you regularly check for irregularities, such as odd-looking moles or bumps — especially if they grow in size, change colors, or shape.
Most — if not, all — can agree that cancer is a terrible disease — and skin cancer, of course, is just one of the many types of cancer out there. Unfortunately, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, more people get diagnosed with skin cancer than any other types of cancer combined. Skin cancer is also so prevalent, that more than 9,500 Americans get diagnosed with the disease every day.
Where Else Skin Cancer Can Pop Up
The earlier skin cancer is detected, the more chances for the treatment to be successful. That’s why it’s imperative that you check your body for changes in the skin. However, not many realize that there are other parts of the body that need to be checked as well.
Here are a few body parts that you need to also check — as skin cancer can also pop up there.
Scalp
You’d think that just because your head is covered with hair, it’ll hardly be exposed to UV light! However, skin cancer on the scalp is pretty common — according to Dr. Stahr (a dermatologist from New Braunfels, TX) in his interview with The Healthy. The best way to find out if your scalp problem is in need of being checked with a physician is to be aware “if anything is growing, itching, burning, or bleeding,” and if that’s the case for you, the dermatologist added, “it should be evaluated by a physician.” You can also regularly ask your hairdresser to check if anything is unusual with your scalp.
Ear canal
Earwax and ear crusties occur — it’s normal! However, if it doesn’t go away from showering or scrubbing, it can be a form of skin cancer. In the same The Healthy article, Dr. Bobby Awadalla (a board-certified dermatologist) says, “My rule is that if you get a new skin lesion and it doesn’t go away after a month you should have it evaluated,” the doctor also explains that “Skin cancers can be red, pearly, scaly, or have an ulceration with bleeding and crusting,”
Under the tongue
Skin cancer under the tongue may sound quite unheard of. However, it’s one of the reasons why your dentist always checks that part of your mouth. The most common cause of skin cancer under the tongue is smoking tobacco.
According to Medical News Today, symptoms of tongue cancer are redness, ulcers that won’t go away, jaw pain, throat pain, a strange lump that won’t go away, jaw or mouth stiffness, pain when swallowing, and numbness.
Under the fingernails
Gel manicures may be trending right now. But those nail lacquers have to be cured by UV lamps! Dr. Stahr calls UV lamps “mini tanning beds.” The physician, therefore, advises that you do your best to also put sunscreen on the tips of your fingernails and toes to prevent skin cancer on the fingernails.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends that people (especially those who regularly get gel-based nail polishes) check if they notice a dark streak on their nails, nail splitting, a bump underneath their nails, nails lifting from their fingers or toes, and dark skin around the nails.
Tattooed areas of the body
Most people who get a tattoo — or tattoos — have lots of reasons to show them off! After all, tattoos don’t seem as taboo as they used to be anymore — since lots of people have them these days; according to a statistic by Ipsos, 2 in 5 Millennials have tattoos. Sometimes, however, we can get too excited to flaunt our freshly-tattooed bodies that we forget that our tatted areas also need sunscreen! Check for bumpy lesions on the reg to make sure that you don’t have skin cancer on the parts of your body that are inked.
Eyes
If you ever accidentally rubbed sunscreen lotion on your eyes before, then you know that the solution isn’t supposed to go there — but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect the irises of your eyes from getting skin cancer! Since UV light is the main culprit for the disease, you can wear UV-blocking sunglasses when you go out. If you notice weird spots on your eyes, you should set an appointment with your doctor immediately — you’re potentially saving your eyesight and your life.
The butt crack — yep!
Dr. Stahr reported a story on The Healthy about a patient of his who had skin cancer on her butt crack. Therefore, butt crack skin cancer actually exists! Turns out, as the physician recalls, the woman apparently loved getting a sun-kissed glow on the tanning bed — and she made sure to get her cheeks evenly bronzed!
Fortunately, Dr. Stahr performed surgery on the patient — the woman is fine now. That’s why the doctor advises that you skip tanning beds or prolonged sunbathing (especially without sunscreen). Again check for strange growth like bumps or moles on the skin — butt crack included!
And, your anus.
As a general rule: don’t believe everything you see on the internet. And to most dermatologists — the viral TikTok trend of “perineum sunning” is advised against. In a Health article, Dr. Nazanin Saedi (department co-chair of the Laser and Aesthetics Surgery Center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting) told the magazine, “As a dermatologist, I cannot recommend any sun exposure without sun protection,”
“These areas, just like other areas of the body, do need sun protection and clothing tends to provide that,” they added. Therefore, it’s best to skip the idea of butthole tanning! Moreover, be on the lookout for changes in your feces — such as bloody stools, pain when evacuating, or other unusual changes in your defecation habits.
Summary
Sunscreens are a skin’s savior! They not only aid in preventing skin damage (that can make us age faster by prematurely getting fine lines and freckles), but it also protects us from getting a painful sunburn. Most importantly, it can also significantly help ward off skin cancer. However, even in places where the sun doesn’t shine, skin cancer can still pop up! Skin cancer should be detected early on — and by being aware of your body (and being on the lookout for changes), you’ll have a better chance of getting treated for skin cancer.
