Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and its incidence is on the rise. Melanoma is caused by damage to melanocytes, the cells that give color to the skin, hair and eyes, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists. It begins on the surface of the skin, but can spread rapidly throughout the body. Risk factors include fair skin that burns easily; atypical or numerous moles; history of sunburns or use of tanning beds; or a family history of melanoma. Prevention focuses on limiting exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays and early detection of moles that may develop into malignancies.
Step 1
Avoid being outside in direct sunlight when ultraviolet light is most intense, generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Check local weather reports for the UV Index on a particular day. Remember that you can be exposed to ultraviolet rays on cloudy days or while you are underwater.
Step 2
Cover up when you are outside. Wear a hat, sunglasses and clothing to protect your skin and eyes. The hat should have a brim all around it to protect the ears, scalp, forehead and nose. Dark, tightly-woven clothing with long sleeves and long pants provide the most protection.
Step 3
Apply a generous layer of water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor--SPF--of 30 or more every day, even on cloudy days, and protect your lips with lip balm. Reapply at least every 2 hours, or more often if you sweat or go into the water. Be aware that, although the use of sunscreen can reduce the risk of melanoma, you can still develop skin cancer if you stay out in the sun too long.
Step 4
Use a sunless tanning product if you want to darken your skin temporarily. Tanning beds and sun lamps expose your skin to harmful ultraviolet rays and have been linked to an increased risk of melanoma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), especially when exposure begins before the age of 30.
Step 5
Keep babies younger than 6 months old out of direct sunlight and limit sun exposure in older infants and children, as they burn more easily than adults.
Step 6
Examine your skin every month. If you find an unusual mole or one that has changed, ask your health care provider to check it. Although the chance of any single mole turning into melanoma is small, individuals with many large or irregular moles are at increased risk.
Tips and Warnings
- If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade because the ultraviolet light is at its peak. Look for broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Snow, water and sand reflect ultraviolet rays, so be especially careful of sunburn under those conditions.
- An individual with any skin color can develop melanoma, but the risk of melanoma among whites is 20 times higher than among blacks, and four times higher than among Hispanics, according to the CDC. Intermittent or intense sun exposure increases the risk for melanoma, notes the CDC, so preventing sunburn in children may reduce their risk of developing melanoma later in life.
Things You'll Need
- Protective clothing
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
References
- American Cancer Society: Melanoma Skin Cancer
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer
- University of Maryland Medical Systems: Melanoma
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Basic Information About Skin Cancer
- American Academy of Dermatologists: Melanoma Skin Cancer
