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Reduce Your Risk |
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Avoid the sun at peak times during the day
Seek shade whenever possible
Wear sunglasses and sun-protective clothing
Wear a wide-brimmed hat
Wear sunscreen
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Prevention
You can prevent skin cancer by following these guidelines:
- Minimize sun exposure. It is especially important to avoid exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. whenever possible. When your shadow is shorter than you are, remember to protect yourself from the sun.
- Seek shade whenever possible.
- Wear sunglasses and sun-protective clothing, including long sleeves, long pants, and a hat with a wide brim.
- Remember UV radiation can go through light clothing, windshields, and windows. It is also reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice.
- Wear sunscreen. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. The higher the sun protection factor (SPF), the more the sunscreen protects. Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going out and then every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
- Wear sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
- Do a self-skin exam monthly and look for precancerous or suspicious skin lesions.
More on Skin Cancer Preventing Skin Cancer
In the Encyclopedia: Skin cancer, non-melanoma
Kaposi's sarcoma
Malignant melanoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Sunburn
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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