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How to Prevent Skin Cancer

Examine your skin for any changes

• Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole.
• The best time to do a skin self-exam is after a shower or bath. You should check your skin in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror
• Its appearance can look like a small milky, pale or wax like bump/nodule that may or may not bleed. It may also look like a hard white plaque in the skin, (possibly could contain some pigment) although this is less common
• If you have a question or concern about something on your skin, see your doctor. Do not use the following pictures to try to diagnose it yourself. Pictures are useful examples, but they cannot take the place of a doctor's examination.

Think ‘ABCD’ when performing self-examinations on yourself

• Asymmetry—The shape of one half does not match the other.
• Border—The edges are often ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular in outline or the pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.
• Color—The color is uneven. May see shades of black, brown, and tan. Areas of white, grey, red, pink, or blue also may be seen.
• Diameter—There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (1/4 inch)

Note: Remember to examine all areas of your body, including the bottom of your feet and your whole scalp (use a comb to see through hair to your scalp)

Avoid sun & Ultraviolet exposure

• Limit time spent in the sun, especially during peak radiation times (Approximately 11am-4pm)
• Avoid tanning salons and sunlamps
• Make sure to cover your head, arms, legs and trunk in you know you are going to be in the sun
• Keep babies under 1 year out of the sun

Use Sunscreen if you’re going to be in the sun

• Sunscreens are NOT intended to increase your exposure time but to increase your protection during unavoidable sun exposure.
• SPF indicates protection from UVB rays primarily.  Protection from UVA is provided by the following chemicals:
  • PARSOL 1789 (AVOBENZANE)
  • DIBENZOYLMETHANES
• The BC Cancer Agency states that ‘fair-skinned’ people should use a minimum of an SPF 30 sunscreen
• Use sunscreen liberally over all exposed skin, use lip sunscreen or zinc oxides for protection of your lips, and re-apply after allotted time, or after swimming or excessive sweating (use water-resistant sunscreen if possible)