May is Melanoma Awareness Month, and with warm weather on the horizon, it is a good time to remind ourselves how to take care of our skin.
Almost 80,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma this year. Here are some tips from the Melanoma Research Foundation on how to protect your skin:
•To protect yourself from harmful UVA and UVB rays always wear broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
•Wear brimmed hats to protect your face, and do not forget to apply sunscreen to your ears, neck and shoulders.
•When in the water or sweating reapply sunscreen every 40 minutes.
•Avoid tanning beds. The World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies tanning beds in the highest cancer risk category.
•Be up to date with the new FDA sunscreen labels and check for a notice that the product has been shown to help prevent skin cancer and premature aging.
•Conduct skin checks on a monthly basis and schedule a yearly appointment with a dermatologist.
Always be aware of changes on your skin and call your doctor if anything looks out of the ordinary. Remember there is no such thing as a safe tan. Tanned skin is a result of damaged skin cells and one blistering sunburn can double the chances of getting melanoma.