July is UV Safety Awareness Month

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is the leading cause of skin cancer—the most common type of cancer in the United States. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop a form of skin cancer in their lifetime.^[1] And, while this may seem scary, the good news is that detecting, treating and lowering your risk are all possible with the right precautions!

Preventing UV Exposure

Protecting your skin from an early age is the most effective way to reduce your risk of skin cancer as you get older. But even if you haven’t made sun safety a priority in the past, it’s never too late to start making it a daily habit—not just on beach days!

To help you do so, remember the 5 S’s of sun safety:

Slip on protective clothing

Clothing and bathing suits with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) provide extra defense. as do UV-blocking sunglasses.

Slop on sunscreen

Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every 2-3 hours, every day.

Slap on a wide-brimmed hat

Wide-brimmed hats offer more protection against the sun for your head and shoulders than baseball caps do.

Slide on sunglasses

In most cases, fashion sunglasses won’t give you the protection you need; make sure your sunglasses are UV-blocking, which shield your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Seek Shade

Avoid direct sunlight during peak sun hours (10 AM – 4 PM).

Knowing Your Risk

As you consider your own personal risk for skin cancer, it’s important to understand the factors that are in—and outside of—your control:

*Risk Factors You Can’t* Control**	Actions You Can Take
• Your family history • Your skin complexion (lighter skin color, moles and freckles, etc.) • Lighter eye color (blue or green) • Your age • Your past history of sun exposure and sunburn	✓ Understand the symptoms of skin cancer ✓ Practice the 5 S’s of sun safety ✓ Visit a dermatologist annually ✓ Perform monthly skin self-exams

Protecting Your Skin—And Your Future

Over half of melanoma cases are identified from skin self-exams.^[2] That’s why regular skin checks are key! The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends performing a monthly skin self-exam to inspect any changes in your skin^[3], including:

A mole or spot that’s changing in size, shape, or color
A new growth that wasn’t there before
A sore that won’t heal
Any spot that itches, bleeds, or looks different from the rest

Skin self-exams only take a couple minutes of your time each month, but could save your life. If you notice anything unusual, be sure to contact your dermatologist.

And remember—schedule a skin check with a dermatologist once a year, and ask them if you should visit more frequently based on your personal risk factors.

Let’s stay safe in the summer sun—together!