Melanoma

Skin cancer is the most common yet easily prevented type of cancer that occurs in the U.S. today. The two main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are very common but easily treatable. The third type of skin cancer, melanoma, is not as common but is far more deadly. For all skin cancers, sun exposure is the primary risk factor.

What can you do to lower your risk of melanoma, or another type of skin cancer? First and foremost, stay out of the sun. This begins at birth, and yet 69% of teens surveyed in 2004 by the CDC reported having been sunburned the previous summer. In addition, about 34% of adults reported in 2006 that they had been sunburned the previous summer.

Tips to Prevent Melanoma

• Don't use indoor tanning facilities. UVA rays are three times more intense in indoor tanning beds than from the sun. UVA exposure causes more than skin cancer -- it causes all the skin changes we experience as we age, from wrinkles to age spots and cataracts.
• Stay inside during midday hours. If you have to be outdoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., you are better off staying in the shade. While sun exposure is lower (note: not zero) in the shade, you will experience less of the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim. While hat wearing may not be as common as it was in years gone by, beautiful wide-brimmed hats are still available for women seeking both sun protection and style.
• Wear clothes that cover all areas of your skin, particularly when you are going to be outside for extended times. It's hard to imagine wearing long sleeves in the summer especially when you live in the Southwest, but the good news is that there are many fabrics designed to be both light and cool while offering you sun protection.
• Protect your eyes. Wearing eye protection, such as sunglasses that wrap around and provide almost 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays, will lower your risk of eye damage, as well as wrinkles around your eyes.
• Finally, always wear sunscreen that provides sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. You can do a lot to prevent wrinkles and damage to your face by always using a moisturizer specifically made for the face that contains an SPF of at least 15. While you can spend a fortune on such products, see this list of sunscreens from steep to cheap.

  _Source

  _{Melanoma Impact Has Costly And Deadly Impact On America. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1019_Melanoma_skincancer.html. 10/20/11.}