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.

Tags: protection against skin cancer, skin cancer, tanning booth