Skin Cancer is America's Most Common Cancer
Summer is full of outdoor activities. You probably put sunscreen on yourself and your kids when you go to the pool or the beach. But do you know you should protect your skin with more than just sunscreen anytime you’re outside?
Sun protection is important all year round, and it’s best to use several different kinds. When you’re working in the yard, watching a ballgame, or taking an afternoon walk, make sun safety an everyday habit so you can avoid getting a sunburn and lower your chance of getting skin cancer.
Keep the tote bag handy so you can grab it whenever you head out for summer fun!
Some important things to pack—
- A lightweight long-sleeved shirt or cover-up.
- A hat with a wide brim that shades your face, head, ears, and neck.
- Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB (broad spectrum) protection.
What Are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
A change in your skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. For melanoma specifically, a simple way to remember the warning signs is to remember the A-B-C-D-Es of melanoma—
- “A” stands for asymmetrical. Does the mole or spot have an irregular shape with two parts that look very different?
- “B” stands for border. Is the border irregular or jagged?
- “C” is for color. Is the color uneven?
- “D” is for diameter. Is the mole or spot larger than the size of a pea?
- “E” is for evolving. Has the mole or spot changed during the past few weeks or months?
Talk to your doctor if you notice changes in your skin such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, a change in an old growth, or any of the A-B-C-D-Es of melanoma.
Resources:
Skin Cancer Awareness Feature | CDC
What Are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer? | CDC