Tips for Skin Cancer Prevention

Most skin cancers are preventable. To help protect yourself, follow these skin cancer prevention tips offered by MayoClinic: * Avoid the sun during the middle of the day. For many people in North America, the sun’s rays are strongest between about 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day, even in winter or when the sky is cloudy. You absorb UV radiation year-round, and clouds offer little protection from damaging rays. Remember, sunburns and suntans cause skin damage that can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Sun exposure accumulated over time also may cause skin cancer.

* Wear sunscreen year-round. Sunscreens don’t filter out all harmful UV radiation, especially the radiation that can lead to melanoma. But they play a major role in an overall sun protection program. Use a generous amount of sunscreen on all exposed skin, including your lips, the tips of your ears, and the backs of your hands and neck.

* Wear protective clothing. Sunscreens don’t provide complete protection from UV rays. Cover your skin with tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs, and a broadbrimmed hat, which provides more protection than a baseball cap or visor does.

* Don’t forget sunglasses. Look for those that block both types of UV radiation — UVA and UVB rays.

* Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds emit UV rays and can increase your risk of skin cancer.