The most direct way to reduce skin cancer risk is to limit exposure to UV radiation. This involves several practical, daily behaviors:

• Use sunscreen consistently: A broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher should be applied every day to all exposed skin. It should be reapplied every two hours when outdoors, or more often if swimming or sweating.
• Wear protective clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, long pants, and sunglasses with UV protection provide a physical barrier against the sun’s rays. Clothing with a specific ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating offers even greater assurance.
• Seek shade: Staying under umbrellas, trees, or shelters, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV radiation is strongest, reduces direct sun exposure.
• Avoid indoor tanning: Tanning beds emit UV radiation that significantly increases the risk of all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. Complete avoidance is advised.
• Be mindful near reflective surfaces: Water, sand, snow, and concrete can reflect and intensify the sun’s rays, increasing UV exposure even when ambient temperatures are low.
• Protect infants and young children: Because early sunburns significantly raise skin cancer risk later in life, infants under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight, and children should be taught sun protection behaviors from an early age.

Regular self-examinations of the skin are critical for early detection of skin cancers, especially melanoma, which can be highly aggressive but is highly treatable when identified early.

• Frequency: Self-examinations should be conducted once a month.
• Procedure: Individuals should examine their entire body in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. A hand-held mirror can help visualize hard-to-see areas such as the back, scalp, and soles of the feet. It is important to inspect the scalp by parting the hair in sections.
• What to look for: New growths, spots, bumps, patches, or sores that do not heal should be noted. Existing moles or spots that begin to change in appearance should also be examined closely.

The ABCDEs of melanoma

The “ABCDE” system provides a guide for identifying suspicious moles or lesions that could be early melanomas:

• A — Asymmetry: One half of the mole or spot does not match the other half in shape, size, or color.
• B — Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
• C — Color: The color is not uniform and may include shades of brown, black, tan, red, white, or blue.
• D — Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can be smaller when first detected.
• E — Evolving: The mole or spot changes over time in size, shape, color, elevation, or symptoms such as itching, bleeding, or crusting.

It is important to note that some melanomas do not fit the traditional ABCDE pattern, which is why any new, unusual, or changing skin lesion should be evaluated by a dermatologist.

Professional skin examinations

In addition to self-examinations, professional skin checks are recommended:

• Annual skin checks: A full-body skin examination by a board-certified dermatologist once a year is appropriate for most adults.
• Higher-risk individuals: People with a personal or family history of skin cancer, a large number of moles, fair skin, a history of frequent sunburns, or use of tanning beds may require more frequent examinations, such as every six months.

During a professional exam, the dermatologist will inspect the entire skin surface, including the scalp, mucous membranes, and between the toes, looking for any suspicious lesions that might require a biopsy.

• Know your personal risk: People with lighter skin, light-colored eyes, red or blonde hair, and a tendency to sunburn rather than tan have a higher risk. Immunosuppressed individuals, such as organ transplant recipients, also face increased risk.
• Stay informed about UV index: Checking the daily UV index provided by weather services can help individuals plan outdoor activities more safely. A higher UV index requires greater protective measures.
• Promptly treat precancerous lesions: Actinic keratoses, which often appear as rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed areas, are precancerous and should be treated by a dermatologist to prevent progression to squamous cell carcinoma.