How Can You Prevent Skin Cancer? 

How Can You Prevent Skin Cancer? 

We face the most common cause of skin cancer every time we step outdoors. A tan might look healthy, but in reality, it means your skin is responding to injury by producing melanin pigments. UV light can start damaging the skin long before you notice signs of a sunburn. 

Even on overcast days, UV rays from the sun or reflected off other surfaces can cause damage to our skin. Preventing skin cancer means limiting UV exposure. 

• Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin every day
• Be aware of UV light on cold or cloudy days
• Protect yourself from UV light reflected off surfaces like snow, water, or sand
• Wear a hat and clothing that covers your face and exposed skin
• Avoid the sun during the hours when the sun is most directly overhead

Types of Skin Cancer

The three major types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Squamous and basal cell carcinomas grow slowly and rarely spread to other areas, but you should have them removed since they will continue to grow. Melanoma develops from pigment-producing cells and may look like an unusual or rapidly changing mole.