Did You Know That You Can Get Skin Cancer On Your Eyelid - Article Health

Skin cancer is on the rise, especially among women. With that scary news has come a push to encourage people to wear sunscreen all the time—whether or not you're sunbathing—and to pay attention to sneaky spots that are often forgotten, like the scalp. But there's another area you're likely missing: your eyelids. Yes, that's right. You can get skin cancer on your eyelids.

While it isn't a super common occurrence—it accounts for just 10 percent of all facial skin cancers—skin cancer on the eyelids can be deadly if left ignored. Here, the important risk factors and symptoms of eyelid cancer, plus what to keep in mind to protect yourself this summer and all year round. (Related: How Often Should You Really Have a Skin Exam?)

The risk factors
Simply put: "Eyelid skin cancer is directly related to exposure of UV light to the eyelids," says Memphis, Tennessee-based ophthalmologist Ming Wang, MD. That means both the sun's UV rays and tanning beds which, ICYMI, are just as toxic and dangerous to the skin.

Eyelid cancer symptoms
When you think of your eyelid, you probably picture the area where you apply eye shadow. But according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, around 70% of eyelid skin cancer cases occur on the lower lid, says Dr. Wang.

How to protect yourself
Wearing sunglasses that block 99 percent or more of UVA/UVB rays will help prevent skin cancer to the eye area, says Dr. Guanche, especially while enjoying outdoor activities like surfing or skiing, where light comes from above and is also intensely reflected from below off of the water and snow.

What to do if you suspect you have eyelid cancer
"The best thing to do if you suspect cancer or find a growth on your eyelids is to see a dermatologist who will biopsy the growth by taking a small piece of skin and sending it to a dermatologic pathologist to review the cells under a microscope," says Dr. Guanche. "If it's cancer, then a specialist would remove the remaining cancer cells."

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