With over 1 million people developing skin cancer each year

It is important to follow 10 easy tips for skin cancer prevention.

1. Avoid sun exposure during the most intense hours: 10:00 am to 4 pm.

2. Any tan is dangerous, including those from tanning beds. Remember that developing a tan is your skin’s response to damaging sun rays, without SPF.

3. Wear sunscreen everyday, even when it’s cloudy.

4. and 5. Choose a sunscreen with a SPF  (sun protection factor) 30 or higher. SPF 15 protects you from 93% of harmful rays while a SPF 50 protects you from 99% of rays.

6. and 7. Follow the directions when applying sunscreen. Usually, it asks for one ounce of sunscreen (the equivalent of a shot glass) to be applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours to help prevent skin cancer.

8. and 9. Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Light colors somewhat protective but thick clothes are the best choice. A white t-shirt only provides a SPF 7 while a denim long-sleeve short has a SPF 1700.  A good rule of thumb is to hold the clothing up to the light. If you can see through it, the SPF is fairly low.

10.  Be aware of your family history. If skin cancer runs in your family, you are 50% more likely to have it also.

Always consult a dermatologist with any concerns. To learn more about skin cancer prevention, watch this video.