May is Skin Cancer Prevention & Detection Month, which offers a great opportunity to learn how we can more effectively protect ourselves from skin cancer—the most preventable cancer of all.

According to the National Cancer Institute, skin cancer is a disease in which cancer cells develop in the outer layers of your skin.

There are several types of cancer that start in the skin. The most common are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer; melanoma is the most serious form.

The following five keys offer information about how the sun and other factors affect your skin, enabling you to better prevent future damage and cultivate beautiful, healthy skin.


Learn how sun exposure increases your cancer risk

Very simply, sunburn and UV light can damage your skin, which can lead to skin cancer. Other risk factors include your heredity and the environment in which you live.

Skin cancer is caused by cumulative sun exposure throughout your life, compounded by overexposure that results in sunburn.

Most people have already received dangerous levels of sun by the age of 18. As a result, it's vitally important to monitor and protect children from excessive sunlight.


Scale back on sun tanning

Tanning is your skin's response to UV light. This protective reaction helps mitigate sun damage, but it doesn't prevent skin cancer.

Skin cancer develops gradually, often taking decades to be diagnosed.

Because the level of UV light is significantly higher today with less atmospheric ozone to shield us from the sun's harmful effects, tanning is less safe than it was 50 years ago.

An additional point to note is that ultra violet light is stronger at higher elevations.

Given these points, most dermatologists agree that sun tanning is simply not safe. But if you choose to sunbathe, at least avoid peak sun hours.


Recognize the warning signs

Skin cancer can occur anywhere on your body, but it is most common in places that have been exposed to more sunlight, such as your face, neck, hands and arms.

Skin cancer may appear in various ways. The most common sign is a visible skin change, such as a growth or a sore that won't heal. Cancer may appear as a small lump, which might be smooth, shiny and waxy looking, or as a rough or scaly flat red spot.

Though not all skin changes are cancerous, inform your doctor of any irregularities that you notice.


Act now to reduce your risk

According to the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation, you can reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer by:

• Minimizing your exposure to the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.



• Using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on all exposed body areas
  

• Applying sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days and after swimming
  


• Wearing clothes that cover your body and hats that shade your face and neck
  


• Avoiding exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors
  
  
• Protecting your children with frequent sunscreen application

Target a healthy diet for skin health and cancer prevention

Eating the right foods, along with supplementing a full spectrum, multi-vitamin/mineral formula will promote healthy skin while reducing your risk of skin cancers.

Nutrients—like vitamins C, E, and beta carotene—play a vital role in protecting skin cells from free-radical damage.

Vitamin C helps fight wrinkles, since it partners with zinc to help the body make collagen.

Zinc also supports the tissue-rebuilding action of vitamin A.

Selenium may reduce the incidence of skin cancer while enhancing the absorption of vitamin E.

The entire B-Complex family helps tissues regenerate, supports natural energy production, and fights the effects of stress by supporting healthy adrenal function.

Along with your daily multi-vitamin, top foods for skin health include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, soy products, beans and nuts, dark leafy greens, and yellow, red and orange vegetables.

Also, be sure to get your omega-3 essential fatty acids—adding a tablespoon of flax seed oil daily will promote skin health and overall wellness.

As you can see, arming yourself with information is the first step towards cancer prevention.

These simple but effective keys will help you dramatically reduce your cancer risk while promoting optimal health and wellness.

So, enjoy the sun this summer, but do so wisely. Your skin health depends on it.