How to Prevent Skin Cancer

I'm sure you're probably sick of hearing about how you should always wear sunscreen. People everywhere are always saying this. Even though it can be a pain, this is actually really good advice.

Sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 can reduce your chances of developing a melanoma. Melanomas are malignant tumors that cause skin cancer. If they are not detected early on, then the cancer will spread to other areas of the body.

This is why you should pay attention to your body and always be on the look out for any melanomas. Try to look at the moles on your skin. There are two types of them, normal moles, and abnormal moles. When you are examining yourself, if you find any moles that are oddly shaped, bleeding, raised, or if they are different then the last time you checked then you should definitely see your doctor. Self examination will help to catch a melanoma early on and prevent it from spreading.

There is an easy way to remember what to check for upon examining. It is called the ABCDE cancer rule:

A stands for asymmetry. Check your moles to make sure they are symmetric. Do they look the same on both sides?

B stands for border. The outside edge of your moles should not be blurry, rough, or uneven.

C stands for color. Your moles should not be multi-colored and they also should never change color.

D stands for diameter. Melanomas are usually bigger than normal moles. Look for large moles.

E stands for Elevation/Evolving. Try to look for moles that are elevated above the skin or have changed in size, shape or color.

You should always be sure to pay close attention to the areas of your body that are exposed to the sun the most. Always shield yourself from the sun by wearing protective clothing and a high SPF sunscreen. Make sure to wear it on your face everyday, even in the winter.

Some people are more at risk for developing melanomas than other people. If you have a history of skin cancer in your family, if you have pale skin, if you get sunburned easily, if your eyes are light colored, if you are in the sun a lot, if you go to tanning salons, or if you already have existing moles, then you are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Also, people that have had chemotherapy or any diseases which affect the immune system are at a higher risk.

If you are questioning any spot on your skin, don't wait to see a doctor about it. The longer you wait, the more it could spread if it is a melanoma. If a melanoma is caught early on, they are almost always 100% curable.