Protect yourself from Melanoma with these easy tips

Spring is here in full force! Before you go outside, remember to take a few steps to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types.  There are 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year, outnumbering all other cancers combined. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and according to the National Cancer Institute over 76,250 new cases will be diagnosed this year in the U.S.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer calls the sun’s ultraviolet rays a human carcinogen.

• Do not receive more than a few minutes of unprotected sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day; avoid tanning beds;

• Wear protective clothing (hat, shirt, UV sunglasses, umbrella);
• Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher twenty minutes before going outside (see chart below);
• Get Vitamin D in a safe way. Your health care provider can check your levels and make the appropriate recommendations; and
• Conduct monthly exams – for details on how to conduct such an exam, you can go to www.skincarephysicians.com/SkinCancerNet/skin_examinations.html

Remember: Tanned skin is damaged skin. Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays all year round.

More information on Skin Cancer can be found on the Suffolk County Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion webpage: www.suffolkcountyny.gov/cancerawareness. Visit the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign at www.ccmac.org/ to learn more about skin care protection and melanoma prevention.