Prevention of Skin Cancer

While a little sunshine is good for you and provides your body with vital vitamin D, it can cause skin cancer. Taking the proper precautions and following these tips make enjoying the sun a safer overall experience.

Protection from the sun

The easiest way to avoid skin cancer is to prevent the sun's harmful UV rays from doing their damaging work on your skin cells. Accomplish this with a properly rated sunscreen. Sun protection factors (SPF) are a way to gauge the protective properties of sunscreen. Apply sunscreen liberally, and opt for regular re-application when outside in the sun. Get a strong caliber of SPF for added protection. Bigger is better; 8 SPF is not as protective as 30 or 40 SPF. The best protection is light-colored clothing that covers all areas exposed to the sun, such as hats and a loose top that shades the shoulders and arms.

Detect warning signs early

Like with any cancer, prevention is enhanced by self-examining for warning signs. Skin cancer is difficult to detect, since there are so many marks and moles on the skin. If a mole is asymmetrical, has a border irregularity, has inconsistent color variations throughout the mole or has a diameter larger than that of a pencil eraser, it is a good time to have a doctor take a closer look. Early detection and body awareness is the best possible prevention.

Sun alternatives

You may have the misconception that staying out of the sun and opting for a tanning booth is a better option. This is not the case. Stay out of tanning booths, as the UV light generated by these devices is just as damaging and harmful.