May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This is serious business, and not just for the fair and freckled among us. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), on average, one American dies from melanoma every hour. And, melanoma incidence is increasing faster in females age 15-29 than in males of the same age group. Those are sobering statistics, but the good news is that the five-year survival rate for melanoma when detected and treated in its early stages is 98%.
Below, we’ve shared just a few of the tips that can help prevent the damage that can lead to skin cancer:
- Use one ounce of sunscreen, an amount that is about equal to the size of your palm. Thoroughly rub the product into the skin. Don’t forget the top of your feet, your neck, ears, and the top of your head. Check out more sunscreen FAQ’s here.
- If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it. Don’t use tanning beds. Just like the sun, UV light from tanning beds can cause wrinkling and age spots and can lead to skin cancer.
- Seek shade. Remember that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If
*Adapted from Sophy Mott, Director of Affiliate and Member Programs for AAFCS