During Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month this May, our team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville wants to share some tips about how you can protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer.

As the weather warms up and we’re able to head outside, these are tips you will want to know!

How Common Is Skin Cancer?

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is actually the most common cancer among people living in the United States. In fact, around one in five Americans will develop some type of skin cancer by the time they reach 70 years of age.

While anyone can get skin cancer, people who are most at risk for skin cancer include people you spend a lot of time in the sun, have had a number of sunburns during their childhood and have fair skin.

Signs of Skin Cancer

• New spot on skin
• Change in size, shape or color of an existing mole
• Mole with an irregular shape
• Borders that are not smooth but irregular or notched
• Mole with uneven shading or dark spots

Can Skin Cancer Be Prevented?

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to prevent skin cancer. For starters, you want to avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which is when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.

You should also steer clear of tanning beds, since even one exposure to a tanning bed can drastically increase your risk.

Ways to Protect Your Skin From the Sun

• Use sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy.
• Put sunscreen on at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.
• Use a sunscreen with a UVA and UVB protection factor of at least 30 or more.
• Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.
• Seek shelter in the shade, if possible.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts when possible, along with hats and sunglasses.

Do you need medical care? AFC TeleCare services are now available at AFC Urgent Care Louisville, so visit our website to schedule an appointment.