With all the information available about skin cancer, you’d think that it would be a health issue in decline. Well, you’d be wrong. Despite all the attention paid to it, and precautions taken against it, skin cancer rates, including rates of melanoma, have continued to increase in the United States, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report. In fact, nearly 5 million people in the United States are treated for skin cancer every year.

The most common types of skin cancer are strongly associated with ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and as many as 90 percent of melanomas, the most deadly form of skin cancer, are caused by UV rays. The good news is that UV exposure is also the most preventable cause of skin cancer. So what else can you do besides applying sunscreen, staying away from tanning beds and wearing sunglasses year-round to ward off these harmful UV rays?

Window film: An important step in the fight against skin cancer

Dr. Boris D. Lushniak, former Acting U.S. Surgeon General (and himself a renowned dermatologist), recently gave a speech at the 2016 International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off in San Antonio, Texas, where I was fortunate enough to speak with him. During the conference he highlighted the protective benefits of window film against harmful UV rays. Calling UV-A and UV-B rays ‘proven carcinogens,’ Dr. Lushniak noted that window film is part of what should be a multi-pronged approach in the battle against skin cancer.

He pointed out that drivers are particularly susceptible to skin cancer caused by UV rays penetrating untreated car windows, and noted that consumers should be made aware of window film’s significant role in preventing skin cancer. UV rays find us in our homes, too, and while we may enjoy the warm feeling of the sun streaming through our windows, we need to be aware of the damage that sun can do to our skin and eyes when it shines through untreated glass.

Dr. Lushniak’s words should serve as a call to action. It is essential that we take every precaution available against skin cancer and protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful rays, wherever we are. Professionally installed window film, both in the home and on the road, provides protection from 99 percent of UV rays compared to about 25 percent for untreated glass.

Armed with this knowledge, we can all take proactive steps to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays at home and in our vehicles, with the added protection of professionally installed window film.

For more information on the benefits of professionally installed window film, visit www.iwfa.com. And remember to visit our dealer locator .