May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This month highlights preventing skin cancer and being able to identify it on your body. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet UV rays from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps.
Reducing exposure to UV rays is the most effective approach to minimize the risk of skin cancer, It is important to protect oneself from UV rays, which are present throughout the year, not just during summers. Even on cloudy and chilly days, UV rays can affect individuals, as they reflect from surfaces such as water, cement, sand, and snow..
The best ways to protect your skin and avoid UV rays:
- Stay in the shade.
- Wear clothing that covers your body.
- Wear a hat to shade your face, head, ears, and neck from the sun.
- Wear sunglasses
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher.
Although anyone can develop skin cancer you’re at higher risk if you have:
- Fair skin
- Freckles
- Blond or red hair
- Blue or green eyes
While preventing skin cancer is the first step, identifying any changes or signs of skin cancer can aid in early detection and significantly improve the chances of a cure.
To identify skin cancer, be on the lookout for anything new, changing, or unusual on your body:
- Any spots that don’t look like others on your body
- Any sore that doesn’t heal
- Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of a mole
- Color that spreads from the border of a spot into the surrounding skin
- Changes in the surface of a mole: oozing, scaliness, or bleeding
Regardless of your risk, examining your skin from head to toe once a month can help identify potential skin cancers early. Early detection and protection of your skin from harmful UV rays is crucial for maintaining healthy skin.