Flip-flops Linked to Skin Cancer

Seems like everything is linked to cancer these days.

Well you can add flip-flops to the list — I’m sure my mother is throwing hers away right now.

Before you toss them though, let me clarify. It is not your flip-flops that cause cancer. In fact, I’ve not seen any studies linking sandals, tongs, flip-flops, or any other foot wear to skin cancer. There are good studies however, which show that sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer, and those glowing-white feet that have been protected in shoes all year are now at significant risk in sandals.

How many of you have had a foot sunburn? Most of us have. That’s because we usually apply sunscreen to our face, arms, neck, and legs but neglect to apply it to the tops of our feet.

Wearing flip-flops exposes the tops of your feet to direct sunlight, significantly increasing your risk for developing a sunburn. Wearing flip-flops will not cause cancer, but getting a blistering sunburn on your feet every summer might.

Remember that because your feet have not seen the sun much for most of the year and are perpendicular to the sun’s rays, they are particularly vulnerable to sun damage. Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 30 when you put on your flip-flops. You’ll thank me later.

Post written by Jeffrey Benabio, MD. You might also like:

How to Avoid Razor Bumps

Skincare Myths: Adding Sunscreens Adds SPF

How to Treat a Sunburn

10 Things You Should Know About Laser Hair Removal

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Photo credit: Brandi Valenza

June 15, 2008 | Filed Under Health and Beauty, Skin Cancer 

Comments

3 Responses to “Flip-flops Linked to Skin Cancer”

  1. MizzJ on June 20th, 2008 4:55 pm

    haha what about a cure for lack of common sense?

  2. Lew Orban on July 4th, 2008 8:03 am

    Since most flip flops are not made of natural ingredients they may very well be a potential cause of skin cancer. Most are made in China and we are all aware of the melamine and on and on problems with their products. Once again you and I have no clue what is in these products…the FDA checks nothing and allows everything. The expsoure of feet allows all sorts of things to collect on them…lawn chemicals, road chemicals, fungus, posions..etc.

    I hope you understand none of us pay close attention to our feet unless we step into something we shouldn’t have. So from the standpoint of exposing our feet to the many man made unnatural chemicals all around us and the rubber etc. composition of the manufactured flip flop our chances of cancer increase greatly. The Sun is a natural process of healing…but when you add on unnatural man made chemicals the sun will react with them and create a potential carcinogen nightmare for your body. Buy natural products if at all possible.

  3. NYC Dermatology on July 13th, 2008 11:11 am

    Great article

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