May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Sophie M
May 4
1 min read

More than 2 people die of skin cancer every hour in the United States.* And yet, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. That’s why every May, during Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we shine a light on prevention, early detection, and the importance of protecting your skin all year long.

Prevention and Awareness Measures

Prevention:

Limit the amount of time spent outside during the sun's peak hours, where the UV rays are the strongest (10am-4pm)
Wear protective clothing such as hats and long sleeve shirts, and wear sunglasses
Wear sunscreen DAILY. This is includes in the winter and on cloudy summer days.
- Sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 (SPF 30 is preferred), and reapply every 2 hours

Awareness:

Skin cancer is much easier to treat when spotted in the early stages. A Dermatologist (doctor specializing in skin cancer) should check your skin for any possible skin cancers, but there are also techniques that you can use to spot suspicious skin lesions for Melanoma.

The ABCDE technique**

Look for:

Asymmetry

Border Irregularity

Color Variation

Diameter of 6mm or greater (roughly the size of a pencil's eraser)

Evolution