Skin Smart Campus

header showing logo of skin smart campus overlaid shrubbery trimmed to read Rutgers


Rutgers University has been recognized as a Skin Smart Campus by The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. Ensuring the well-being of our students, we are providing a safe and healthy learning and living environment on and off campus, pledging to keep indoor tanning devices off our campus and our affiliated buildings. We also promote skin cancer prevention policies and education.

The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus Initiative is sponsored by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention in response to the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer which concluded that there is a strong association between increased risk of skin cancer and indoor tanning use.

There is a strong association between increased risk of skin cancer and indoor tanning use. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure from indoor tanning is completely avoidable which allows for interventions to help reduce skin-cancer related illness and deaths. Numerous studies have found that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with melanoma as one of the most common cancers diagnosed among young adults. The use of indoor tanning facilities before the age of 35 increases the risk for melanoma by 59 percent. 

Sun screen station locations:
Main lobby near the front desk
Golden Dome Athletic Center
42 Warren St
Newark, NJ 07102
 
Lobby by the elevators
Medical Sciences Building
185 South Orange Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103

Sponsors for the sun screen stations:
Rutgers Cancer Institute and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences Rutgers

 

View our full Skin Cancer Resource Center.

General Facts

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.

  • 1 in 5 people will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lifetime
  • The two most common skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) are highly curable but can be disfiguring and costly.
  • Melanoma (the third most common skin cancer) may be deadly.
  • Without protection, the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes

General risk factors include:

  • Light skin, or skin that burns, freckles, or reddens easily
  • Large number of moles
  • Blue or green eyes
  • Blond or red hair
  • Personal or family history of skin cancer
  • Sun exposure
  • History of sunburns, especially in early life
  • History of indoor tanning
    ○ the average tanning bed gives of 2 to 10 times more UVA radiation than the sun
    ○ using tanning beds before the age of 35 increases a person's risk for developing melanoma by 75%

The majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and can be prevented with sun safety practices:

  • Seeking shade
  • Wearing:
    ○ Sunscreen
         ▪ Reapplication is necessary every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or toweling off.
         ▪ Broad spectrum UVA and UVB, SPF 30 or higher
    ○ Protective clothing     
         ▪ Long sleeves/pants that are kept dry and darker colors are best.
    ○ A hat     
         ▪ Wide-brimmed hats are best.
    ○ Sunglasses

For More Information

For more information, visit these links:

Sources:

1. Skin Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm. Published 2014. Accessed July 11, 2016.
2. Tanning. Skin Cancer Foundation. skincancer.org/prevention/tanning. Published 2016. Accessed February 14, 2017.
3. Skin Cancer Incidence Rates - American Academy of Dermatology Association aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer