Friday, August 1, 2014

How to Avoid Skin Cancer

1. Protect yourself from the sun.
Avoid sunlight, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when it's usually strongest. Wear large-brimmed hats and tightly woven clothing with long sleeves and pant legs.

Also, apply sunscreen on all exposed areas.

"SPF 30 or higher is fine, [but you need to] reapply it every two hours," Dr. Fox says.

If you're swimming, get out of the water and reapply at least every 90 minutes, she advises.

Also, follow directions on the bottle closely, because sunscreens vary in strengths and degrees of water resistance.

2. Examine yourself regularly.
Check every inch of your skin, using the American Academy of Dermatology's self-examination tips ^[1] or information from your doctor.

To perform a self-exam, look closely at your body, front and back, in a mirror. Search for any moles or areas of discoloration that are new or changing. Don't forget to examine your sides, with your arms raised, and then check your elbows, hands and arms using a hand mirror.

Then look closely at the front and back of each leg, and check your feet, including the soles.

Finally, ask someone to examine the back of your neck and scalp.