Tips for Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection

Summer is here and with that comes trips to the beach, splashing in the pool and playing outdoors. It also means an increase in sunburns which can lead to skin cancer, particularly melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

"One out of three Floridians develop skin cancer, making us the second highest ranking skin cancer state in the country. Prevention and early detection are keys to survival," says Dennis Rousseau, MD, surgical oncology director at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. "The sooner melanoma is detected, the less likely it is to spread and shorten your life."

Reduce your chance of developing skin cancer by:

• Minimizing sunlight exposure between 10 am and 4 pm
• Wearing sunscreen always, even on overcast days. All ethnicities are susceptible.
• Dressing in protective clothing to cover your body, face and neck.
• Staying away from tanning beds. The bulbs emit UVA rays, which can lead to skin cancer.

• Knowing your family history and regularly checking for new or changing moles.

ABCDEs of Melanoma and Moles

Look out for these signs and consult a healthcare professional if you observe any of the following:

Asymmetry: Any mole that is not perfectly round

Border irregularities: If the edge of the mole isn't smooth

Color variation: If the mole is more than one color

Diameter: Mole is greater than 6 mm

Enlarging Lesion: Any mole that's getting larger