One person dies every hour from Melanoma
One in 50 people will get Melanoma
It is the 2nd most common cancer in women < 39
Most common killer in women age 29-34
How can you protect yourself?
- See your dermatologist for an annual skin exam.
- Wear Sunscreen. Make sunscreen a daily habit. UV radiation can still damage skin even in the winter and on cloudy days. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays) with SPF of at least 30. I recommend those containing zinc such as Elta MD, SkinMedica, Cerave, among others. Go to www.EWG.org to see how your sunscreen measures up. If you have tan lines you are either using the WRONG sunscreen and/or you are not reapplying.
- Wear Protective Clothing. Protect your body with sun-protective clothing, hat, and sunglasses.
- Avoid Peak Rays. Seek shade during the mid-day sun, when the sun’s rays are most intense.
- Don’t Use Tanning Beds. Indoor tanning has been shown to increase the risk of melanoma by up to 75%. Melanoma is the number one new cancer diagnosed in young adults (ages 25-29), and scientists attribute this trend to the use of tanning beds among this age group, particularly young women.
Melanoma Risk Factors:
- Fair skin
- Red or blonde hair
- Light eyes
- More than 50 moles
- History of sunburn or UV exposure
- Family history of skin cancer
- Personal history of skin cancer