Skin Cancer Doesn’t Have to Happen: Here’s How to Prevent It

Photo Credit: Hansen Creative Co

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it’s largely preventable with everyday habits. A few smart choices—done consistently—can dramatically lower your risk over time.

Everyday Protection That Adds Up

Make broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) part of your morning routine, even on cloudy days and in winter. Reapply every two hours when outdoors, and sooner after swimming or sweating.

Clothing is powerful protection: choose UPF shirts, wide-brim hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Seek shade whenever possible, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest.

Skip the Burn—And the Bed

A sunburn is skin damage, full stop. Avoid tanning beds altogether—their concentrated UV exposure raises skin-cancer risk and accelerates skin aging.

If you enjoy outdoor activities, plan them for earlier or later in the day, and keep a “sun kit” (travel sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses) in your bag or car. Small preparations make protection effortless.

Know Your Skin: What to Look For

Do a monthly self-check from scalp to soles, using a mirror or a partner to see hard-to-view areas. You’re looking for new spots or changes in size, shape, color, or sensation.

A quick guide: the ABCDEs of melanoma—Asymmetry, irregular Borders, multiple or uneven Colors, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving over time. If something looks different from your other spots (“the ugly duckling”), get it checked.

Photo Credit: Hansen Creative Co

Know Your Skin: What to Look For

Do a monthly self-check from scalp to soles, using a mirror or a partner to see hard-to-view areas. You’re looking for new spots or changes in size, shape, color, or sensation.

A quick guide: the ABCDEs of melanoma—Asymmetry, irregular Borders, multiple or uneven Colors, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving over time. If something looks different from your other spots (“the ugly duckling”), get it checked.

Your Annual Game Plan

Schedule a yearly full-body skin exam with a board-certified dermatologist. If you have a history of skin cancer, numerous moles, fair skin, significant sun exposure, or a family history, you may need to visit more often.

Between visits, snap clear photos of any moles you’re monitoring to make changes easier to spot. Bring those images to your appointment so your dermatologist can compare them over time.

 

Make Prevention a DailyPhoto Credit: Hansen Creative Co Habit

Keep sunscreen next to your toothbrush so application becomes automatic. Stash a hat and sunglasses by the door, and reapply sunscreen after lunch if you’re heading back outside.

Teach sun safety to kids and remind older adults—prevention matters at every age. With consistent protection, early checks, and professional exams, most skin cancers can be prevented or caught when they’re most treatable.

Written by Dr. Akhil Gupta, double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon specializing in skin cancer.

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