We all know that skin cancer is a bad thing, and most of us take some measure to protect ourselves from known risk factors. However, we might not be following enough skin cancer prevention tips to reduce our chances of getting this disease as much as we can. This article will discuss some of the best skin cancer prevention tips to keep this potentially deadly disease at bay. By following a few simple steps, you can reduce your risk of skin cancer and enjoy a higher quality of life overall.
Skin Cancer Prevention Tip: The Lowdown on Sun Exposure
Slathering on a bit of sunscreen before hitting the beach for the day will probably not be a sufficient protection against skin cancer. First, sunscreen should be used every day, even if the sky is overcast. The sun’s rays can penetrate cloud cover to cause significant damage to the skin. Second, a single application of sunscreen is usually not sufficient. To ensure the protection of skin many skin cancer prevention tips recommend reapplying of sunscreen after every couple of hours. SPF of 30 is also needed.
The Truth about Tanning Booths
Many people opt to get their summer glow at a tanning booth rather than soaking up the sun’s harmful UV rays. However, studies show that consistent exposure to the light in tanning booths can be just as harmful. Tanning booths discharge both UVA and UVB rays in heavy amount. In fact, the UVA rays in a tanning salon have been shown to be two to five times more intense than natural sunlight. If you simply must have a summer tan, try the kind in a bottle. It is probably your safest bet, according to most skin cancer prevention tips.
The Skinny on Self Checks
Just like many other forms of cancer, the best skin cancer prevention program will involve regular self checks to look for unusual moles or markings on the skin. By screening your own skin, you can find questionable areas right away, when treatment will be minimally invasive and most effective. How often should you check? Most skin cancer prevention tips recommend talking to your doctor about the best schedule for you. Before selecting a screening schedule doctor go through the risk factors and the past of the patient. However, general skin cancer prevention tips recommend giving your skin a quick once over each month for best results.
Skin cancer can be a scary diagnosis, but it is a diagnosis that some can avoid entirely. By heeding these skin cancer prevention tips, you can keep your skin safe and healthy.
Skin cancer has become a deadly force across the globe today, but the good news is there are steps you can take to prevent this disease. The best way to treat skin cancer is to stop it before it starts, and this is where steps to prevent skin cancer come into play. By detecting skin cancer at it’s early stage is also the best way of prevention. This article will cover three ways to prevent skin cancer that will include stopping the disease before it starts and catching it in its earliest stages.
Know your Risk Factors To Prevent Skin Cancer
While nearly everyone has some risk of getting skin cancer, there are some who need to work harder to prevent skin cancer than others. The first step is learning what the risk factors for skin cancer are and determine whether you fall into any of the high risk categories. The most likely people to get skin cancer are those that are fair-skinned and sunburn easily. Other risk factors include having blond or red hair and light-colored eyes. If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with skin cancer, this raises your risk factor further. By knowing the risk factors, you can learn how to prevent skin cancer in your unique situation.
Avoid the Sun To Prevent Skin Cancer
We have heard the mantra so many times, we hardly listen any more. However, sun protection is a vital way to prevent skin cancer and should never be ignored. You should wear sun protection any time you are outdoors, since the sun’s rays can even penetrate cloud cover to cause harm. It is also important to avoid the sun completely during the hottest parts of the day whenever possible. To protect your head and face, wear a hat with a wide brim as well. Sun protection is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer throughout your life.
Get Checked
Regular skin cancer screenings are another excellent method to prevent skin cancer. Your doctor will let you know how often your screenings should be scheduled based on your risk factors and family history. Screenings will be more frequent of anyone who have had irregular moles or skin cancer in the past,. If the doctor finds a questionable spot on your skin, it can be promptly removed, examined and treated if necessary. This way you can nip cancer in the bud, even if you do find a malignancy at some point.
There are many good ways to prevent skin cancer and avoid the dangers that this disease brings. By knowing your risk factors, protecting yourself from the sun and scheduling regular screenings, you can do much to minimize the effect of this deadly disease.
All of us know someone who has been touched by cancer in some way, whether it is skin cancer or another type. Skin cancer, while normally not considered to be as serious as other types, can still be a chronic disease. However, if skin cancer is caught in the early stages, as when a individual notices changes in the moles that they have on their body, then it can possibly be cured. This is why it is so important to watch for any changes that may be occurring that would lead you to believe that you may have skin cancer, such as skin tags and changes in the moles, especially if you believe they are cancer moles.
Cancer moles can be identified by using what is called the ABCD method. The letters stand for the symptoms of the disease and can be used to pinpoint when medical attention needs to be sought. It is important to remember that if you suspect that you may have skin cancer, then the earlier that it is caught, the better. This can mean looking for any changes in the moles that you may have and also being aware of what those changes could be.
The first letter A stands for ‘asymmetry.’ Normally, a mole is round and symmetrical in shape. It is often when the mole begins to grow that it looks a little skewed or asymmetric. Always visit your doctor and let them know if you observe a change in the skin moles. The second letter B stands for ‘border.’ If the border of your moles looks jagged or irregular, instead of definite and strong, then this could be a sign of cancer. The letter C indicates another important aspect, ‘color.’ Unlike warts or other skin blemishes, these moles change in color suddenly, leaving you quite surprised. Lastly, the letter D stands for ‘diameter.’ Most cancerous moles will grow in size; hence, an increasingly larger diameter could alert you to see your physician.
There are two categories of people who are likely to fall prey to this type of cancer: those with fair (white) skin; those who work for long hours in the sun; those with a family history of cancer (heredity). If you fall into any one of these brackets, then keep a close watch on the cancer moles so you will have the best odds, when and if you discover you suffer from skin cancer moles.
