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Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or from the artificial lights in tanning booths. The more intense the sunlight, the greater the risk of skin damage and skin cancer over your lifetime.
Sunburn danger
Your risk of eventually developing melanoma rises most when you get a sunburn, especially a severe one. Excess sun exposure earlier in life can increase this risk even further, so it’s especially important for children and youth to be protected against sunburns. Even adults who get just one severe sunburn every year or so can see their melanoma risk eventually double or triple.
Why melanoma is deadly
Because melanomas can appear on the back, legs and soles of the feet in many people, they can be hard to spot until they become advanced. They are also easily mistaken for common moles. In the most serious stage, they can spread to other parts of the body, greatly lowering your chance of survival.
Recognizing possible melanomas
Melanomas differ from ordinary moles by being more irregular in shape and color. They tend to grow over time and change their appearance. A new growth or a sore that doesn’t heal can also be signs of melanoma.
Recognizing possible melanomas »
Sunscreen protects against UV rays that lead to melanoma
Sunscreen is designed to protect your skin from UV rays and the damage they cause, including sunburns. Sunscreens with a protection factor (SPF) of just 15 can mean hours of sun protection when applied correctly. (The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.)
Stay protected by:
- Use sunscreens offering both UVA and UVB protection with SPF values of 15 or higher.
- Applying sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before you go out into the sun or water. This ensures that the sunscreen isn’t easily washed off by water or sweat.
- Covering up with a hat and long clothes whenever possible. Even on cloudy summer days, UV rays can still reach unprotected skin.
- Keeping to shady areas as much as possible.
Be sun smart
Getting outdoors has many health benefits, including an important boost in vitamin D from sunlight exposure. For your best health, get your daily sunlight in the morning or evening when the sun is less intense, and not for extensive periods. In the summer, it takes just a few minutes of sunlight for a full day’s worth of vitamin D. The rest of the time, stay protected with shade, the right clothes, and sunscreen.
