May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month » HealthStreet » College of Public Health and Health Professions

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the primary cause of skin cancer. UV damage can also cause wrinkles and blotches or spots on your skin. The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented, and it can almost always be cured when it’s found and treated early. A child wearing sunglasses and sun hat with sunscreen at the tip of his nose.

A child wearing sunglasses and sun hat with sunscreen at the tip of his nose.

Take simple steps today to protect your skin:

Stay out of the sun as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Put on sunscreen every 2 hours and after you swim or sweat.
Cover up with long sleeves and a hat.
Check your skin regularly for changes

In addition to taking precautions to limit the danger of sun exposure, it is essential that you monitor your skin regularly and know the ABCDEs of melanoma. To learn more about skin cancer check out the Sun & Skin News blog by the Skin Cancer Foundation.