Melanoma is the deadliest form of cancer for young people between the ages of 25 and 29. Skin cancer is preventable; yet incidence rates continue to rise. Early detection and treatment are the keys to a cure. People of all ages need to routinely look out for new or changing spots on their skin. If you have a history of sunburns, tanning bed use or skin cancer, you should be screened by a board-certified dermatologist annually.
Easy Summer Skin & Eye Safety Precautions
You can afford to burn the toast but not your skin. Children who have multiple sunburns early in life have a much higher risk for developing skin cancer at a later age. Take these precautionary steps to play it safe in the sun:
- Wear protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible.
- Apply SPF 30 or higher broad-spectrum sunscreen liberally to dry skin, at least 20 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every two hours when outdoors.
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears.
- Choose to sit in the shade especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Know your 'ABCDEs'
Detecting skin cancer requires active vigilance. Look at the skin and consult with a doctor about spots that have:
- Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
- Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred.
- Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black.
- Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch or the size of a pencil eraser)
- Evolution: The mole is changing in size, shape or color. Continued change in a spot over time is the most important predictive factor for development of skin cancer.
Schedule an appointment with our board-certified dermatologists