By Mindy Longhurst
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. One in five adults will get some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. Skin cancer is also one of the most preventable types of cancer. People can do little things each day to make sure that they are protecting their skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Some of these tips are listed below.
Shade
Staying in the shade helps to keep your skin less exposed to the harmful rays. Shade also helps to cool the body down after being in the sun for an extended amount of time.
Sunscreen
Make sure to wear sunscreen! It protects your skin and helps to reduce chances of getting skin cancer. Watch for our story about sunscreen later this week.
Long-sleeve clothing
Long-sleeve clothing helps to prevent the sun from having direct contact with your skin.
Wide-brimmed hat
Wide-brimmed hats protect the face, head and neck from the dangerous rays of the sun.
Avoid sun tanning and UV tanning booths
Any form of tanning is dangerous to the skin. Tanning from the sun and tanning from a booth both cause UV exposure, which increases the risk of getting skin cancer.
Examine your skin
Individuals should take the time to examine all of their skin for any moles or discoloring. This should be done at least once a month to make sure that the skin is being taken care of properly.
Limiting long exposure to the sun
Limiting long exposure to the sun reduces the risk of burning the skin and causing damage.
Visit with your doctor
If you have any questions or concerns about skin cancer please take the time to ask your doctor at your next check-up visit.
For more information about how to prevent skin cancer, please visit https://www.skincancer.org/ or https://www.aad.org
BYU College of Nursing 