Prevention of Skin Cancer

Prevention list: Methods of prevention of Skin Cancer mentioned in various sources includes those listed below. This prevention information is gathered from various sources, and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Skin Cancer.

Avoid sun exposure
Avoid tanning salon exposure
Avoid sun-sensitizing creams and medications
Use sunscreen
Cover skin areas with clothing
Wear a hat
Wear a shirt
Wear sunglasses
Regularly self-examine skin
Regular skin exam by a doctor

Prevention of Skin Cancer: Skin care doctors (dermatologists) recommend that everyone do a self-exam of the skin to look for changes, and a monthly mole self-exam. This includes looking at the skin on your whole body, even your scalp, the soles of your feet, between your toes, and on the palms of your hands. People between the ages of 20 and 39 should have a complete skin exam by a health care provider every three years. People over the age of 40 should have a complete skin exam by a health care provider every year. ¹

How can I reduce the chances that I will get skin cancer? ¹

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Routine examination of the skin increases the chance of finding skin cancer early.²

All skin cancers could be cured if they were discovered and brought to a doctor’s attention before they had a chance to spread. Therefore, you should check your skin regularly.³

To help reduce the risk of skin cancer caused by UV radiation, it is best to reduce exposure to the midday sun (from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Another simple rule is to avoid the sun when your shadow is shorter than you are.

Wearing a broad-brimmed hat, UV-absorbing sunglasses, long pants, and long sleeves offers protection. Many doctors believe that in addition to avoiding the sun and wearing protective clothing, wearing a sunscreen (especially one that reflects, absorbs, and/or scatters both types of ultraviolet radiation) may help prevent some forms of skin cancer. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF). The higher the SPF, the more sunburn protection is provided. Sunscreens with an SPF of 12 through 29 are adequate for most people, but sunscreens are not a substitute for avoiding the sun and wearing protective clothing.⁴

In addition, skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to UV radiation. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun's damaging effects begin at an early age. Therefore, protection should start in childhood to prevent skin cancer later in life.

Whenever possible, people should avoid exposure to the midday sun (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. standard time, or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daylight saving time). Keep in mind that protective clothing, such as sun hats and long sleeves, can block out the sun's harmful rays. Also, lotions that contain sunscreens can protect the skin. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun's harmful rays.⁵

The cure rate for skin cancer could be 100 percent if all skin cancers were brought to a doctor's attention before they had a chance to spread. Therefore, people should check themselves regularly for new growths or other changes in the skin. Any new, colored growths or any changes in growths that are already present should be reported to the doctor without delay.⁵

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Skin Cancer: NWHIC
2. excerpt from Cancer Facts for People Over 50 - Age Page - Health Information: NIA
3. excerpt from Skin Care and Aging - Age Page - Health Information: NIA
4. excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI
5. excerpt from What You Need To Know About Skin Cancer: NCI

Last revision: June 16, 2003

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