SKIN CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH

Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun

Properly applying and reapplying sunscreen is one of the most important things you can do to keep skin cancer at bay. Make sure to follow these steps whenever you plan on being outdoors, even if it is just for a short time:

• Always try to use SPF 30 or above and make sure to apply sunscreen generously. SPF 30 or above sunscreens block 97% of the sun’s UVB rays, but make sure to reapply often to keep your skin protected. Don’t forget tricky spots like your ears, back of your neck, feet, and the underside of your chin!
• Seek shade to limit your exposure to the sun, especially from the hours of 10 am to 4 pm. If you can’t avoid the sun, wear protective clothing that prevents direct exposure to the sun.
• Don’t try to get tan! A tan means damage has already occurred to your skin cells, and it does not provide protection from sunburns. Indoor tanning is just as harmful as outdoor tanning. Tanning beds increase your risk of skin cancer and are NOT a good source of vitamin D.
• Pay attention to risk factors like light skin, moles, a history of previous cancers, older age, and immunosuppression. Having any of these risk factors significantly increases your risk of skin cancer, and you should be more careful about your exposure to the sun.

To read more about ways to stay safe in the sun, visit our sun safety information page here https://skincancerinfo.org/sun-safety/.

Catching Skin Cancer Early

Luckily, skin cancer is very treatable if caught early. Knowing how to perform skin self-examinations can help you to find suspicious spots on your body to be examined by a doctor. Early detection is key in avoiding the need for drug treatment later. Grab a standing mirror and a handheld mirror and follow these steps to perform a skin check on yourself today:

• Examine your face, nose, lips, mouth, and ears—front and back.
• Thoroughly inspect your scalp using a blow dryer and mirror to expose each section to view.
• Check your hands carefully between fingers and under fingernails. Go all the way up your forearms.
• Standing in front of a full-length mirror, scan your upper arms and underarms.
• Focus on your neck, chest, torso and breasts while looking for suspicious spots.
• Hold up a handheld mirror with your back to a full-length mirror to view the back of your neck, shoulders, and upper arms.
• Scan your lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs.
• Also examine the genital and mucosal areas.

To view more detailed instructions, visit our early detection page here https://skincancerinfo.org/early-detection/.

Treating Advanced Skin Cancers

If you are living with skin cancer, our website provides many resources to improve the treatment and outcomes of skin cancer. Below are a few links to pages on our website to help you find the specialists you need, and answer any questions you have about treatment:

• If you are in search of a specialist, visit this page to find an ideal specialist near you https://skincancerinfo.org/find-a-specialist/.
• If you have questions about your diagnosis or treatment plan, ask an expert here https://skincancerinfo.org/ask-an-expert/.
• If you are interested in participating in live Q&A sessions with dermatology experts, view our webinar series here https://skincancerinfo.org/events/.
• If you would like to participate in clinical trials for skin cancer, use our matching service here https://app.emergingmed.com/terranova-medica/home.
• For resources for SCSC, click here https://skincancerinfo.org/resources-for-scsc/.
• For resources for BCC, click here https://skincancerinfo.org/resources-for-bcc/.