Below are ways to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eat foods with high levels of antioxidants (substances that protect cells from damage). These include fruits (especially berries), vegetables, and leafy greens.
Reduce Sun Exposure
The most important thing to remember is to limit exposure to the sun.
- Avoid exposing your skin to the midday sun (between 10AM to 2PM), and try to stay in shady areas.
- Be aware of the local ultraviolet (UV) index for the day. Often this is in weather reports. A higher UV index means you have a greater chance for sunburn.
Cover Up
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants or a long skirt, and a broad-brimmed (at least 2-3 inches) sunhat when outside. Dark colors and tightly woven fabrics offer the best sun protection. Some new fabrics are designed to screen UV radiation. The clothes will list an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) on their labels.
Special “shade” hats are available that look like baseball caps with extra hanging fabric to protect the sides and back of your neck.
Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV radiation which causes cataracts in older people.
Use Sunscreen
Use a lot of sunscreen (SPF of 30 or higher) and lip balm with sunscreen during the day. The higher the SPF number, the longer a person can safely stay outdoors before needing to reapply sunscreen.
Use sunscreen 30 minutes before going into the sun, even when the weather is cloudy.
Reapply the sunscreen one hour after sweating a lot or soon after swimming. Reapply sunscreen every couple of hours in hot weather.
Avoid Tanning Salons and Sunlamps
These devices emit UVA and UVB wavelengths. They can have the same damaging effects as direct sunlight.
Last Updated May 2023