If it doesn’t feel like summer yet where you are, rest assured – it’s coming! With hotter weather and vacation season right around the corner, May is the perfect time to remind ourselves to “love the skin you’re in,” and take some easy, yet effective, precautions when enjoying summer outdoor activities.

Skin cancer is the leading type of cancer in the United States, and it’s also the easiest to prevent. Most people get skin cancer through sun exposure, or more specifically, exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, people who frequent tanning beds or use sunlamps also expose themselves to harmful UV rays.

According to the CDC, there are three types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinomas
• Squamous cell carcinomas
• Melanoma

Squamous and basal cell carcinomas are the most common, while melanoma is the most deadly.

Who is at risk?

While anyone can get skin cancer, some people are at a higher risk. Be particularly mindful of your sun exposure if you have:

• Light skin, blonde or red hair, or blue or green eyes
• Skin that freckles or burns easily
• Plentiful moles
• A family or personal history of skin cancer

Be sure to take special precautions with children, particularly for infants 6 months and younger. Look for sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for sensitive areas on the face and ears. Many sunscreen manufacturers make them in playful colors, as they may stay visible after applying.

In addition to sunscreen, outfit young children in sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats, and limit their exposure when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest, typically between 10:00 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Protecting your skin

Being outdoors and summer go hand in hand, and often it comes with increased physical activity. The sun also helps your body produce Vitamin D. Rather than avoid the outdoors altogether, start developing sun-safe habits to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer.

• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, preferably higher, reapplied every two hours if you remain outdoors.
• Wear protective clothing. Several clothing manufacturers now make clothes from material designed to keep us cool, while still covering our arms and legs. Some also have built-in SPF protection. To protect your eyes and face, wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Look for wrap-around sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
• Seek shade frequently to avoid overexposure and stay cool.
• Stay out of tanning beds, which are linked to melanoma and proven to be just as harmful—if not more—than excessive sun exposure.

Check it out!

Show your skin the love it deserves by doing regular checks. Make it fun by participating in the Skin Cancer Foundation’s #SkinCheckChallenge. Have a friend or loved one look at places you can’t see, like your back or the back of your scalp. Talk to your doctor about any noticeable new growths you see, changes in older ones, or sores that don’t seem to heal.

When you’re doing your skin checks, keep in mind the ABCs of moles that could signify melanoma:

A – Asymmetrical or irregular shape

B – Border with irregular or jagged edges

C – Color that is uneven

D – Diameter that is larger than a pea

E – Evolving or changing since your last check

Being more aware of your skin health and making it a habit to protect it is one of the kindest things you can do for your skin – and your future health.