Protecting Your Skin: A Guide to Prevent Melanoma By Debbie Churgai
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States 1 and melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, claiming the lives of approximately 8,290 Americans in 2024. The good news is that 90% of melanomas are considered preventable and melanoma treatments continue to improve each year. With summer just around the corner, there is no better time to learn how to protect your body’s largest organ: your skin. EARLY DETECTION IS KEY Unlike other cancers, most melanomas can often be seen on the skin, making it easier to detect in its early stages. When caught early, most cases are very treatable and highly survivable. If
of the body, such as the eyes (uveal melanoma), mucus membranes (mucosal melanoma), underneath finger and toenails, and on the palms of hands and bottom of feet (acral or subungual melanoma). Knowing what to look for and performing regular monthly self-skin exams and annual dermatological skin checks can help you become aware of changes to your body. Be on the lookout of such things as a mole that changes color, a dark spot on the palm of your hand that grows in size, or a freckle in your eye. Taking steps to prevent melanoma is the best first step in protecting yourself and your skin. The chart below will help you in determining if you should make an appointment with a dermatologist. To learn more about melanoma, check out the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) website at www.Melanoma. org or join us in person at our DC Miles for Melanoma 5k run/walk event on Saturday, May 11 to raise mission critical funds that directly support the melanoma community join. melanoma.org/DCMFM. For more tips, research updates, community events and more, please follow us on social media!
left undetected, however, melanoma can spread to lymph nodes and organs in the body, making treatment much more difficult. USE SUNSCREEN EVERYDAY Whether you can see the sun or not, ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate through the clouds. In addition to preventing cancer, sunscreen also blocks UV rays that lead to signs of aging such as wrinkling and discoloration. A broad- spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is recommended for daily use and to reapply it every two hours. The best sunscreen to use is the one you’ll use every day! SHY AWAY FROM THE SUN While we love the warmth of the summer months, the best way to protect your skin when outside is to seek shade when possible, cover up with UPF protective clothing, sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat and try to avoid being in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR While melanoma most often arises in the skin (cutaneous melanoma), its rarer forms can also develop in other areas
1 https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/index.htm
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