Once you have had skin cancer, protection from the sun is even more important.
The best prevention methods for skin cancer is to avoid sun exposure during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
If you cannot avoid sun exposure, here are some ways you can protect yourself.
- Wear sunscreen every day (even in the winter) with an SPF of 30 or more. Apply sunscreen to all exposed parts of your body.
- Wear a big hat when outside.
- Carry a small umbrella to provide shade when no other sources of shade are available.
- Wear long sleeves and pants.
- Cover up with clothing that has added UV protection.
When it comes to preventing and detecting skin cancer, it pays to be a little more mindful and take the extra precautions. The best approach to skin cancer is prevention—and the most effective treatment when it does occur is for early disease.
More prevention methods include:
- Checking your skin once a month
- Seeing a dermatologist annually
- Using sunscreen—enough, the right kind and often enough—to be effective. To be effective, sunscreens should be broad spectrum, at least SPF 30 and waterproof. It also needs to be applied to all exposed areas of the skin and repeated approximately every two hours or after swimming.
- Wearing protective clothing