• Wear your broad-spectrum, minimum SPF 30 sunscreen and encourage others to do so. Sometimes it’s as simple as mentioning how easy it is to develop skin cancer and how it’s even easier to take preventative measures that will spark others to apply and reapply their sunscreens.
• Have your skin examined annually by a board-certified dermatologist. Of course, we would love for it to be with us, but as long as you are having your skin examined by a board-certified dermatologist at least once a year, we’re happy and your skin is happy.
• Stay out of the tanning beds and encourage others to do the same! There’s no need for us to elaborate on this one.
• Get your friends and family involved. Here’s one of the things about skin cancer: once thought to be a cancer of the ages, increasingly younger individuals are being diagnosed with skin cancer each day. It’s the leading cancer amongst females ages 25-29 and the second most common cancer in young adults ages 15-29. Try to get everyone on the same page when it comes to taking care of their skin. There will be resistance on some levels, but even starting the conversation is a big step towards greater skin cancer awareness.
• Embrace the skin you’re in. One of our biggest roadblocks is that many still think suntanned skin is more attractive than our natural skin tones. If we can change this idea one person at a time, we’ll be well on our way to watching those skin cancer diagnosis rates start to drop.
Small steps travel a long distance when it comes to skin cancer awareness and every little action helps. You can always contact us if you have any questions or have an unusual spot you would like to have checked out by one of our board-certified dermatologists. That’s what we’re here for – for you and the health of your skin!
