Melanoma Prevention
What can I do to Reduce the Risk of Melanoma?
Wearing protective clothing while in
the sun may reduce your risk of
melanoma. New data have
demonstrated that regular sunscreen
use may also prevent melanoma
development.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends the following steps to help reduce your risk of skin cancer:
- Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible.
- Seek the shade when appropriate, especially when the sun's rays are the strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Regularly use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher on all exposed skin, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
- Protect children from the sun by using shade, protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.
- Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand, which can reflect the sun's rays and increase the chances of sunburn.
- Avoid tanning beds. The UV (ultraviolet) light from tanning beds causes skin cancer, including melanoma and accelerated photoaging, wrinkling and sagging of the skin.
- Check your birthday suit on your birthday. Look at your skin carefully and if you see any lesion(s) changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see your doctor.
Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet (which may include vitamin supplements.) Don't seek out the sun to increase your vitamin D levels.
Trial Administration