Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May is skin cancer awareness month.

Skin cancer is actually one of the most common cancers in the United States. It is also one of the most preventable. I am a melanoma survivor myself. Just because you are young does not mean you cannot get skin cancer. Take care of your skin! I take skin cancer prevention very seriously, even before I was diagnosed with melanoma. Today I would like to share my tips for skin cancer prevention, sun protection during the warmer months and what I do to stay safe in the sun.

Get a Skin Cancer Screening, Especially if You are at High Risk: Skin Cancers are easily treatable if they are caught early. One of the best ways is to get a skin cancer screening with a dermatologist. If you are high risk for skin cancer like myself this is essential! You can determine your risk level here. However, pretty much everyone can benefit from a baseline skin cancer screening. Your dermatologist will tell you how often you should be screened from there on out.

Complete a Self Check at Home: Take a moment in the mirror to look at all of your moles. Take note if any have changed in size, shape or color. Complete this check several times a year. Make a note of any changes and bring them up to your dermatologist. This is a great resource here on what to look for during a self check.

Wear a Hat: When outside for longer than 20 to 30 minutes it is a good idea to wear a hat to protect your scalp, ears, face, and neck from the sun. A good rule of thumb is if you can see through the weave of the hat material, so can the sun. There are many hats on the market that have a UPF rating. Also, the wider the brim, the more protection that the hat will provide.

Wear Sun Protective Clothing: I have built a collection of sun protective clothing that I have on rotation during the spring and summer months when I know I will be outside. Sun protective clothing will have a UPF rating. There are many brands that offer sun protective clothing these days such as Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines! They are fashionable and no longer look like fishing outfits haha!

Wear Sunscreen: When you know you will be outside for more than 20 to 30 minutes it is a good idea to wear sunscreen, especially if you are at higher risk for skin cancers. Make sure to reapply every 2 hours. My personal favorite sunscreen is from Coola.