Skin cancer is among the leading cancers in the United States. Approximately 5 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. However, you can reduce your risk of getting Pasadena skin cancer by adopting simple measures and making small modifications to your lifestyle. Here are tips to help reduce your chances of acquiring skin cancer.
Apply sunscreen
Always, apply a generous amount of SPF 30 or higher full-spectrum sunscreen anytime you are outside for more than a few minutes. Also, apply sunscreen daily to all exposed parts of your skin, even when you are not going outside. The sun may damage your skin even when sitting next to a window in your house, an office, or a vehicle.
Rethink your tan aesthetic
If you believe that tanned skin is healthy, you don’t understand what tanned skin is. Tanned skin is damaged skin. Actually, the tan is your skin’s effort to protect itself from ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Choosing a tanning parlor over the beach will not make you any safer. In fact, it may cause far more serious harm. Tanning salons use UV radiation to tan your skin, which is far closer to you than the sun. Either accept your natural skin tone or locate a spa that offers a harmless spray tan. While the artificial tan does not last for long, it can help improve the health of your skin.
It is also best to apply a high-SPF sunscreen since it can protect your skin against cancerous mutations.
Examine your skin
Every once a month examine your skin from head to toe to check for any moles or abnormalities. If you detect changes in your skin appearance or symptoms like bleeding, itching, or lesions, you should see a dermatologist as soon as possible. While skin cancer often occurs in sun-exposed regions, this is not always the case. Therefore, check between your fingers and toes, as well as your palms and soles for any skin changes.
Visit a dermatologist annually
If you are at risk of getting skin cancer or have a family history of other skin cancer, visit your dermatologist once a year for skin cancer screening. Visiting your dermatologist helps to have a clinical record of your skin. Also, your doctor can notice changes in even modest skin texture, color, or form of pigmentation that might lead to skin cancer.
Prevention is the best cure, and a yearly screening with a board-certified dermatologist guarantees that your skin issues do not progress to skin cancer. Also, regular screening can help to detect skin cancer early when it is treatable.
Wear sun-protective clothing
Sun-protective apparel provides additional UV protection and can be very cooling on a hot sunny day. Having thin hair or being bald raises your risk of getting skin cancer, thus consider wearing a hat to protect your neck, face, and ears.
Call California Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Specialists to book your appointment for the treatment of skin cancer.
