Skin Cancer Safety Tips 
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Protect yourself from skin cancersun survivor logo

  • Seek shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours
  • Avoid tanning beds
  • Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
  • Have a skin cancer exam every 3 years
  • Keep babies out of the sun
  • See your doctor if you have new, irregular or changing moles

More than 50,000 new cases of skin cancer will be reported in the U.S. this year. Don't be one of them.

Warm weather means more skin is exposed to the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to prevent skin cancer. And, when caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable and curable.

Skin cancer fast facts

Did you know...

  • The skin is the body's largest organ?
  • A suntan is the skin's response to an injury?
  • Half of all new cancers are skin cancers?
  • More than 1.3 million Americans will get skin cancer this year?
  • It's the most common type of cancer among men?
  • An estimated 9,800 people will die of skin cancer this year, 7,800 from melanoma and 2,000 from other skin cancers?

The A,B,C,D's of Danger signs:
Consult your doctor or dermatologist immediately if any of your moles or pigmented spots exhibit...

  • Asymmetry, or one half is unlike the other
  • Border irregular--scalloped or poorly circumscribed border
  • Color varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown; black; sometimes white, red or blue
  • Diameter larger than 6mm as a rule (diameter of a pencil eraser)

How to catch potential problems early: Start by noting where your birth-marks, moles and blemishes are and what they usually look like. Check for anything new or a change in the size, texture, or color of existing moles. Also, be on the look out for sores that don't heal. The American Cancer Society suggests the following step-by-step guide: 

  1. Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror. Then raise your arms and check out your left and right sides.
  2. Bend your elbows and examine your palms, forearms (including the undersides) and upper arms.
  3. Inspect the back and front of your legs. Also look between the buttocks and around the genital area.
  4. Sit and closely examine your feet, including the soles and the spaces between the toes.
  5. Look at your face, neck and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a blow dryer to move hair so that you can see better.
  6. If you notice anything unusual, see your doctor right away. Catching skin cancer early can save your life.  

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