Important Skin Cancer Prevention Facts You Should Know
Skin cancer is a skin disease that ranges in areas from mild to the potentially more serious form of melanoma. This cancer is the number 1 type of cancer and more and more skin cancers are being diagnosed each year, averaging more than one million in the United States alone.
Because people aren’t as careful with their skin as they are with other parts of their bodies, skin cancer often goes unnoticed at first. People may not be as alarmed by changes in moles and skin growths as they would be with other health abnormalities, such as persistent heartburn, increased pain, or blood in the stool.
Prevention is the key to avoiding skin cancer. Prevention is possible using a variety of key measures. If you don’t implement these measures, you can increase your potential to develop any of the different types of skin cancer. Simple changes to your lifestyle choices can greatly reduce your risk. Below are some of the preventive measures that will help prevent skin cancer in the future.
Prevention measures:
The sun’s rays help make vitamin D in your body, so the sun isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Knowing how much and at what times to avoid the sun is what you should strive for. To avoid the most intense ultraviolet rays, try to stay out of the sun between 10 am and 4 pm If you must be outside, you’d definitely benefit from covering up a bit. Wear a hat with a wide brim to prevent sunlight on facial areas and sunscreen to protect the face and the rest of the body.
Wear sunscreen daily on your hands and arms that get sun exposure while driving. This will also help reduce the appearance of sun spots and aging on the hands.
Wear sunscreen while working in the office if you work under ultraviolet lights. You may not realize that daily exposure to ultraviolet lights in the office can also increase your risk of skin cancer and also accelerate the appearance of skin aging.
Try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. You may be surprised to learn that even then your skin is at risk. Select a sunscreen that is labeled SPF 15 or higher. Your sunscreen will need to be applied about every 2 hours or so. Sunglasses will also provide protection for your face and the sensitive skin around your eyes.
Buy sunglasses that block 99% or more of the sun’s UVB and UVA radiation. Don’t choose sunglasses simply because you like the way you look in them. If you can, buy sunglasses that partially wrap around the sides of your head.
Check your skin often during showers or baths. Early discovery of any new or unusual growth or change offers the best chance for a cure.
If you notice any moles or abnormal growths on your body, see your doctor right away to get the earliest possible diagnosis of any form of possible skin cancer. Skin cancer prevention methods combined with early cancer detection would offer the greatest chance of recovery with timely treatment.