Skin Cancer Prevention

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• QHow can I prevent skin cancer?

  8 Answers

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  A Aurora Health Care answered

  The best defense against skin cancer is protection from the sun and ultraviolet light:

  1. Avoid excessive sun exposure; minimize or avoid time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  2. Wear protective clothing (hat that shades the face, neck and ears; long-sleeved shirt and long pants).
  3. Use sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher every day. Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.

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• QHow can I protect myself from the sun to reduce my risk of skin cancer?

  2 Answers

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  A Aurora Health Care answered

  Following are tips to help protect you from the sun:

  • Use sun protection at all times. Even on overcast days, up to 60% of the sun's rays penetrate cloud cover, and 85% of the sun's rays reflect off of sand, water, and concrete.
  • Minimize sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the sun's strongest hours.
  • Omit outdoor activity when the ultraviolet (UV) index, published in many newspapers, is 7 or higher.
  • Sunscreen should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

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• QWhat should my child wear in the sun to protect him from skin cancer?

  1 Answer

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  A Aurora Health Care answered

  Dress your child in tightly woven, light-colored fabrics, and in a hat with a brim. Everyone, including infants, should wear sunglasses that block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• QHow often should I check my skin for cancer?

  3 Answers

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  

  You should check your skin for skin cancer at least once a year by taking the "birthday suit test." Learn more about this topic in this video with Dr. Oz.
  
  
  
  

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• QCan sunscreen prevent skin cancer?

  1 Answer

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  A Environmental Working Group (EWG) answered

  There’s no proof that sunscreens prevent most skin cancer. Rates of melanoma -- the most deadly form of skin cancer -- have tripled over the past 35 years. Most scientists and public health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have found very little evidence that sunscreen prevents most types of skin cancer. Yet a good sunscreen can play role in preventing sunburns that are a major risk factor for melanoma -- provided you use it correctly. That means frequently applying it to all exposed areas of the body.
• QHow can I reduce my risk of developing cancer from sun exposure or tanning?

  1 Answer

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  A LIVESTRONG answered

  To reduce the risk of cancer from ultraviolet (UV) rays, use sunscreen that blocks both UV-A and UV-B radiations with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15. Wear protective clothing and a hat when you are outdoors. UV damage occurs most during the mid-morning to late afternoon hours. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation.
• QWhy should I check my partner's skin for sun damage?

  1 Answer

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  A RealAge answered

  While you're helping your significant other get slathered up with sunscreen this weekend, throw in a little bonus gift -- a skin check.
  
  You see, there's a benefit to being this close. Couples with tight-knit bonds are more likely to carefully check each other's skin for moles, bumps and other worrisome marks.
  
  Skin self-exams can catch melanoma and other skin cancers early, when treatment has the best shot. And in a study of melanoma survivors, couples in close relationships were about three times more likely to do the skin-check deed. A partner can help with hard-to-see spots, too -- like your back and your scalp.

• QHow can I avoid skin cancer?

  1 Answer

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  

  One person will die of skin cancer almost every hour, but is avoidable. Learn more about skin cancer in this video with Dr. Oz.
  
  
  
• QShould I examine my skin regularly to prevent skin cancer?

  2 Answers

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  A Dr. Kelly Traver , Internal Medicine, answered

  Everyone should examine his or her own skin on a regular basis and be aware of any lesions on the skin. Any new or changing growth should be brought to the attention of a physician. In addition, anyone with increased risk factors should get a regular skin examination. This includes those who have had a previous skin cancer or significant sun exposure/sunburn history and those with a high mole count, atypical moles, or a family history of melanoma. If you can't remember anything else, remember this one key point: when it comes to taking care of your skin, the most important message is sunscreen, sunscreen, and sunscreen.

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• QWhat are sunscreen guidelines for children to prevent skin cancer?

  1 Answer

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  A Aurora Health Care answered

  The following are sunscreen guidelines for children:
  

  • Apply sunscreen to small areas of skin not protected by clothing.
  • Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside.
  • Apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed areas. Most people receive only 20% to 50% of a sunscreen's advertised protection because they use too little.
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if the child plays in the water, even if the sunscreen is "waterproof."
  • Choose sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Do not use sunscreens that are combined with insect repellent.