Flip flops aren’t just for the beach anymore. You see them in big cities and on men as well as women. How many of you have had a foot sunburn? Most of us have. We usually apply sunscreen to our face, arms, neck and legs but are guilty of neglecting to applying it to the tops of our feet. The most common forms of skin cancer that can occur on the feet are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Prevention of skin cancer on the feet is similar to any other body part: limit sun exposure, apply appropriate sunscreen, and check your body for suspicious spots. In fact, one or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence can more than double a persons’ chances of developing melanoma later in life. An accurate diagnosis can lead to earlier treatment and resolution.
Remember that because your feet have not seen the sun much for most of the year they are vulnerable to sun burn and sun damage. Apply a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater when you put on your flip flops. You’ll thank me later.