Wellness Minute: Skin Cancer Prevention
What increases your risk of skin cancer?
- Malignant Melanoma/premalignant skin spots (as identified by your physician)
- Being fair- skinned/having freckles
- Repeated exposure to bright sunlight
- Sunburning/blistering
- Undergoing radiation/chemotherapy
- Coming into contact with pesticides or other chemicals
- Skin creams or lotions that contain tar
What are some ways to prevent skin cancer?
- Limit your time in the sun (especially when the sun is hottest 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
- Use SPF 15 sunscreen and reapply regularly (even if it indicates it is waterproof/sweatproof!)
- Wear a hat and sunglasses
- Don't try to get a sun tan or use a tanning booth
- Check your skin monthly for the signs listed below
Signs of Skin Cancer:
- A mole that bleeds
- A sore that doesn't heal in 2 weeks
- A mole that itches
- A mole that grows fast
- A scaly/crusty growth on the skin
Please call your physician for further guidance should you have any of these signs
When should I see a doctor?
- Asymmetry – When both sides of the mole do not look the same
- Edges of the mole are jagged/blurry
- Color of the mole changes
- Mole is larger than 1/4 inch
- Mole is rapidly growing
