Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

Much of the country has not seen much but rain and snow this spring but soon the sun will be out and that is one reason May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Skin cancer is a preventable cancer as long as people are aware and take care. Protection, prevention and detection are the keys to dealing with skin cancer. Here are some ways to protect yourself:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
• Avoid indoor tanning.
• Talk to your parents and see a physician, preferably a dermatologist, if you see any changes in existing moles or freckles.

For more information on Skin cancer and prevention go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.