Important Facts About Skin Cancer Prevention You Should Know

Skin cancer is a skin disease that ranges in mild areas to the potentially more serious forms of melanoma. This cancer is the #1 type of cancer and every year more and more skin cancers are diagnosed, averaging over one million in the United States alone.

Because people are not as careful with their skin as they are with other parts of their body, skin cancer often goes unrecognized at first. Individuals may be less concerned with changes in their moles and skin growth, as is the case with other health disorders, such as persistent heartburn, increased pain or blood in the stool.

Prevention is the key to avoiding skin cancer. Prevention can be done using various key actions. By not implementing these steps, you can increase your potential for developing one of the different types of skin cancer. A few simple changes to your lifestyle choices can greatly reduce your risk. Below are some precautions that will help prevent skin cancer in the future.

Precautions:

Sunlight helps make vitamin D in your body, so the sun isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Knowing how much and at what time to avoid the sun is something you should strive for. To avoid the most intense UV rays, try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you have to go out in it, you’ll definitely benefit from covering it up a bit. Wear a hat with a wide brim to avoid the sun on the face area and sunscreen to protect the face and the whole body.

Wear sunscreen daily on your sun-exposed hands and arms while driving. It will also help reduce the appearance of sunspots and aging on your hands.

Wear sunscreen while working in the office if you work under UV light. You may not realize that daily exposure to UV rays in the office can also increase the risk of skin cancer and also accelerate the appearance of aging on your skin.

Try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. You may be surprised to learn that even your skin is at risk. Choose a sunscreen labeled with SPF 15 or higher. Your sunscreen needs to be applied approximately every 2 hours or so. Sunglasses will also provide protection for your face and the sensitive skin around your eyes.

Buy sunglasses that block 99% or more of the sun’s UVB and UVA radiation. Don’t choose sunglasses just because you like how you look. If you can, buy sunglasses that partially cover the sides of your head.

Check your skin frequently during showers or baths. The discovery of new or unusual growths or changes early on offers the best chance of healing.

If you notice any moles or abnormal growths on your body, consult your doctor immediately to get an early diagnosis of any possible form of skin cancer. Skin cancer prevention methods combined with early detection of cancer will offer the greatest chance of recovery with prompt treatment.

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