Skin Cancer Prevention Guidelines

1. Seek the shade, especially between 10am and 4pm.
2. Do not allow your skin to burn – ever.
3. Avoid sun-tanning. There is no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan is the skin’s cry for help and response to damaging UV rays, whether from the sun or an artificial source.
4. Do not use solariums. All solariums use UV light which damages your skin.
5. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
6. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, especially on the face.
7. Apply plenty of sunscreen to your entire body 20 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours. Concentrate on facial areas such as ears, nose and lips.
8. Protect babies from the sun. Use protective clothing, a pram shade, and seek as much shade as possible. Low irritant sunscreens should be used on babies especially on the face.
9. Examine your skin from head-to-toe on a regular basis, at least every 3 months.
10. See your doctor every year for a professional skin examination.
11. See your doctor if you notice a new or odd-looking mole, a changing mole, or skin spot that bleeds easily or is tender.