May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

 

 

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) encourages residents to take action to protect their skin and prevent skin cancer in the future. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer found in the United States; 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable cancers.

 

 

 

Protecting yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is important all year round, and especially in summer when most of us spend more time outdoors. If you are going to be outside longer than 15 minutes, follow sun safety recommendations.

Practice Sun Safety

• Stay in the shade.
• Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher.

 

 

 

If you have had a lot of sun exposure, check your skin regularly for any suspicious changes. By checking your skin, you can find signs early when it is highly treatable. A change in your skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. Not all skin cancers look the same, so talk to your doctor if you notice changes in your skin such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, a change in an old growth, or any of the A-B-C-D-Es of melanoma:

 

Asymmetrical: Does the mole or spot have an irregular shape with two parts that look very different?
Border: Is the border irregular or jagged?
Color: Is the color uneven?
Diameter: Is the mole or spot larger than the size of a pea?
Evolving: Has the mole or spot changed during the past few weeks or months?