How to Prevent Skin Cancer
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February is National Cancer Prevention Month, and skin cancer is the most common and preventable cancer in the United States.
Learn how you can prevent skin cancer for yourself and your family!
Seek the shade.
Stay inside from 10 am to 4 pm, when the sun’s rays are the harshest. If you have to go out during this time or anytime, seek shade under an umbrella, tree, or another shelter. Newborns should especially stay out of the sun!
Cover up with clothes.
Dress yourself to protect your skin from the sun. Long sleeve shirts and long pants offer the most protection, and also choose lightweight fabric for the most comfort. The fabric should also be tightly woven; materials with holes, such as lace, don't block the sun. Also, darker colors block more sun than light colors.
Don’t forget your feet. Your shoes should cover them. If you wear sandals or flip-flops or go barefoot, apply sunscreen to the exposed skin.
For maximum comfort and protection, check out the Coolibar line. We love it so much we carry it in our office. Stop by to see what we have available.
Accessorize for sun protection.
When chosen thoughtfully, your accessories can protect your skin from the sun. Buy large framed or wrap-around sunglasses that offer UV protection. Also, choose a wide-brimmed hat that covers your ears, head, and neck. The hat's material shouldn’t have holes so the sun cannot get through.
Wear sunscreen.
Make a habit of wearing sunscreen, even if you don't think you'll be in the sun. Using SPF 15 or higher sunscreen daily reduces your risk of melanoma by 50%. Use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for extended outdoor activity. Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Apply sunscreen to babies starting at six months of age.
Avoid sunburns.
Your risk for melanoma doubles if you’ve had more than five sunburns. If you’ve already had more than five sunburns, you can still prevent additional ones by following the suggestions above. Also, if you are a parent or grandparent, you can follow these guidelines for your children and grandchildren to protect them from the risk of cancer.
Don’t tan.
This point should be obvious with all the other tips we have given. However, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) conducted a survey of 1,000 adults in 2022, and their findings showed that many people still believed myths about tanning. “The survey showed that 60% got a tan in 2021, and 27% were under the false impression that having a base tan decreases the risk of developing skin cancer. Another 38% said tanning was safe as long as you didn’t burn.”
In addition, although the numbers are decreasing, many people still use indoor tanning beds, which expose people to the same or more harmful radiation as exposure to the sun. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you will have a 75% increased risk of developing life-threatening melanoma from just one indoor tanning session before age 35. Indoor tanning also causes premature aging, immune suppression, and eye damage. So, don’t do it!
Check your skin.
In addition to preventing skin cancer, you should screen yourself for it. Check yourself from head to toe once a month to identify any new, unusual spots or other changes in your skin. Visit a dermatologist once a year to be professionally examined. Even if you do get skin cancer, you can recover from it if you catch it early.
