Avoiding skin cancer is predominantly your responsibility. Regular visits to your Franklin dermatologist will help but they should never be substituted for proper skincare.

Unfortunately, at least 20% of Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their lives. The most common type of cancer in the United States can be avoided by doing some very basic things.

The following are some tips that anyone can use to avoid being a victim of skin cancer:

Stay in The Shade

Shade on a hot summer day offers a great reprieve. However, the reprieve is not only for your weary body but also for your skin.

A lot of skin cancer is caused due to overexposure to harsh ultraviolet rays. Such cases can be avoided by simply staying in the shade when the sun is at its highest which is between 10 am and 4 pm, especially during summer.

Stay indoors during this time which is the best form of shade you can get. If you have to go out, you should ensure to stay in the shade as much as you can.

Apply Sunscreen

Going out during summer is mostly unavoidable. It is especially the case when you have fun activities planned with family or friends.

If you absolutely have to spend the day outdoors, you should ensure that you apply at least one ounce of sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside. By doing so, you will be giving your skin an extra layer of protection against skin cancer.

If you are going to spend the entire day outdoors during summer, you should apply sunscreen every two hours for good measure. You should do so even if you will spend the majority of the day in water swimming or diving.

The sunscreen you use should be a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be used if you will spend most of the day in the sun.

Avoid Tanning Beds

Tanning beds have often been viewed as a cheaper and less harmful alternative to basking in the sun. nothing could be farther from the truth.

Using a tanning booth or bed to darken your skin could be one of the most dangerous things you can do to your skin. These beds emit highly carcinogenic elements that have devastating consequences.

To avoid getting skin cancer you should stay away from tanning booths altogether. A little sunshine in the morning or evening should give you an adequate and safe tan.

Proper Skin Care

As stated earlier, you are ultimately responsible for the health of your skin. Proper skincare is the best way to prevent skin cancer.

You need to conclusively examine your entire body’s skin from head to toe at least once a month to avoid skin cancer. By doing so, you can easily see if the sun has had a negative effect on your skin.

Regular trips to your dermatologist are also part of proper skincare. They will screen you for skin cancer with every visit and help keep your skin cancer-free.