Preventing skin cancer requires a lifelong commitment to skin health. You can begin this process by following a few simple prevention steps listed below. There are also relevant risk factors that may make you more susceptible to skin cancer and warning signs that you should look for. Read below to learn more about how you can avoid skin cancer.

Steps to Help Prevent Skin Cancer

There are several steps you can take to prevent skin cancer:

  • Stay in the shade during the hours of 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
  • Avoid burning your skin or using tanning/UV tanning beds.
  • Wear clothing that covers vulnerable areas of your skin, including UV-resistant sunglasses and a hat with a broad brim.
  • Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on a daily basis. Use SPF 30 or higher for extended outdoor activity. All sunscreen should be broad spectrum (UVA/UVB), which protects against both types of harmful UV light.
  • Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or following periods of swimming or sweating. The amount applied each time should be about an ounce.
  • For babies, apply sunscreen to those who are over six months old and keep newborns out of the sun.
  • Perform a full-body examination of your skin on a monthly basis for any abnormalities or areas of concern and visit your physician annually for a skin cancer screening.
Woman putting sunscreen on shoulder

Am I at Risk?

The following factors increase your risk of developing skin cancer:

  • Overexposure to sunlight or tanning beds
  • You have fair-skin, sunburn easily, have natural red or blonde hair, don’t tan much at all, etc.
  • You have a pre-existing family history of skin cancer
  • You have multiple or unusual moles
  • You have experienced severe sunburns in the past
  • You have a weakened immune system
female doctor examining mole on patients back

What Do I Need to Look For?

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, schedule an appointment with Cedar Valley ASCENT:

  • A change in the size or color of a mole, growth or spot a new growth (even if it has no color)
  • Scaliness, roughness, oozing, bleeding or a change in the way an area of skin looks
  • A sore that doesn’t heal
  • The spread of pigmentation (color) beyond its border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
  • A change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness or pain

If you have a mole/skin spot you are concerned about or if you’d like to know your skin cancer risk, contact Cedar Valley ASCENT. Cedar Valley ASCENT can assist with screening, diagnosis, treatment and after care.