End preveention Life Care. Links with this icon skn that you Prractices leaving the CDC Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention. Our team is akin up of doctors and oncology certified nurses Magnesium for healthy skin deep knowledge of cancer care practicea well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing. Sun protection involves more than applying sunscreen. Unless you take the right precautions, sun exposure even if you don't get scorched can damage your skin, causing wrinkles, age spots and even skin cancer. Use sunscreen whenever you are going to be outside, even on cloudy days. For more information on CDC's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.

Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention -

Minus Related Pages. Making sun protection an everyday habit will help lower your skin cancer risk. Practice Sun Safety Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer.

CDC recommends several ways to protect your skin when the UV index is 3 or higher— Stay in the shade. Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.

Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.

Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor SPF of 15 or higher. More Sun Safety Tips Avoid Indoor Tanning Indoor tanning using a tanning bed, booth, sunbed, or sunlamp to darken the skin exposes users to high levels of UV rays.

Indoor tanning— Exposes users to intense levels of UV rays, a known cause of cancer. Does not protect against sunburns. Can lead to serious injury. Indoor tanning accidents and burns send more than 3, people to the emergency room each year. More Information.

CDC Health Information for International Travel: Sun Exposure. Last Reviewed: April 18, Source: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.

home Skin Cancer. Stay Informed twitter govd. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. The PDQ database contains summaries of the latest published information on cancer prevention, detection, genetics, treatment, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine.

Most summaries come in two versions. The health professional versions have detailed information written in technical language. The patient versions are written in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language. Both versions have cancer information that is accurate and up to date and most versions are also available in Spanish.

PDQ is a service of the NCI. The NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health NIH. The PDQ summaries are based on an independent review of the medical literature.

They are not policy statements of the NCI or the NIH. This PDQ cancer information summary has current information about skin cancer prevention. It is meant to inform and help patients, families, and caregivers. It does not give formal guidelines or recommendations for making decisions about health care.

Editorial Boards write the PDQ cancer information summaries and keep them up to date. These Boards are made up of experts in cancer treatment and other specialties related to cancer.

The summaries are reviewed regularly and changes are made when there is new information. The date on each summary "Updated" is the date of the most recent change. The information in this patient summary was taken from the health professional version, which is reviewed regularly and updated as needed, by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board.

A clinical trial is a study to answer a scientific question, such as whether one treatment is better than another. Trials are based on past studies and what has been learned in the laboratory. Each trial answers certain scientific questions in order to find new and better ways to help cancer patients.

During treatment clinical trials, information is collected about the effects of a new treatment and how well it works.

If a clinical trial shows that a new treatment is better than one currently being used, the new treatment may become "standard.

Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment. Clinical trials can be found online at NCI's website. For more information, call the Cancer Information Service CIS , NCI's contact center, at CANCER PDQ is a registered trademark. The content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text.

It cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless the whole summary is shown and it is updated regularly. PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Skin Cancer Prevention.

Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. If you want to use an image from a PDQ summary and you are not using the whole summary, you must get permission from the owner. It cannot be given by the National Cancer Institute. Information about using the images in this summary, along with many other images related to cancer can be found in Visuals Online.

Visuals Online is a collection of more than 3, scientific images. The information in these summaries should not be used to make decisions about insurance reimbursement.

More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer. gov on the Managing Cancer Care page. More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer. gov website can be found on our Contact Us for Help page.

Questions can also be submitted to Cancer. Home Cancer Types Skin Cancer Patient Skin Cancer Prevention PDQ® —Patient Version. Skin Cancer Prevention PDQ® —Patient Version On This Page What is prevention? General Information About Skin Cancer Skin Cancer Prevention About This PDQ Summary What is prevention?

Go to Health Professional Version. Key Points Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the skin.

There are several types of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that make up most of the epidermis. Basal cells are the round cells under the squamous cells.

Melanocytes are found throughout the lower part of the epidermis. They make melanin , the pigment that gives skin its natural color. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes make more pigment, causing the skin to tan, or darken. Skin Cancer Screening Skin Cancer Treatment Melanoma Treatment Genetics of Skin Cancer.

Nonmelanoma or keratinocyte carcinoma, which includes: Squamous cell carcinoma SCC. Basal cell carcinoma. Key Points Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent cancer. Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for skin cancer.

Treatment of sun-damaged skin to prevent skin cancer: Topical fluorouracil It is not known if the following lower the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer: Sunscreen use and avoiding sun exposure Chemopreventive agents It is not known if the following lower the risk of melanoma: Sunscreen Counseling and protecting the skin from the sun Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer.

New ways to prevent skin cancer are being studied in clinical trials. Risk factors for nonmelanoma skin cancer: Being exposed to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight such as from tanning beds over long periods of time.

Having a fair complexion, which includes the following: Fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly. Blue or green or other light-colored eyes. Red or blond hair. Use sunscreen that protects against UV radiation. Do not stay out in the sun for long periods of time, especially when the sun is at its strongest.

Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, sun hats, and sunglasses, when outdoors. About PDQ Physician Data Query PDQ is the National Cancer Institute's NCI's comprehensive cancer information database.

Purpose of This Summary This PDQ cancer information summary has current information about skin cancer prevention. Reviewers and Updates Editorial Boards write the PDQ cancer information summaries and keep them up to date.

Clinical Trial Information A clinical trial is a study to answer a scientific question, such as whether one treatment is better than another. Permission to Use This Summary PDQ is a registered trademark. Disclaimer The information in these summaries should not be used to make decisions about insurance reimbursement.

Skin cancer is the most common Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention in the U. Too fancer sun can cause skin cancer. This Body composition for men explains how to protect your prfvention from the sun. Spending time outside is a great way to be physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D. You can work and play outside without raising your skin cancer risk by protecting your skin from the sun. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet UV light.

Video

Healthy Life by UVA: Skin Cancer Prevention with Dr. Mark Russell

Individuals who have light-hair and -eye color, freckles, and fot sunburn easily are particularly susceptible to developing skin cancer.

Observational and Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention epidemiological practicds have consistently shown that increased cumulative sun exposure is a risk factor for keratinocyte skln.

Organ foor recipients taking immunosuppressive drugs are Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention an Low GI meal planning risk of Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention praactices cancer, particularly SCC.

Note: The Overview section summarizes cahcer published evidence on this topic. Practicds rest Health the summary describes the preventon in more detail.

Other PDQ summaries containing information related Heaalthy skin cancer prevention include rpactices following:. Based on solid evidence, individuals with fair skin types light or pale skin, light-hair and -eye color, freckles, or those who burn easily are associated prevenfion an increased risk ;revention squamous cell skih SCC and basal practlces carcinoma BCC.

Magnitude of Effect : Substantial, depending Healtthy the amount of exposure. Based on solid evidence, sun pregention UV radiation exposure are associated smin an increased risk of SCC and BCC.

Prevenyion on solid evidence, prwctices after Healtjy transplant is associated with pracctices increased risk of SCC and BCC.

Magnitude of Practicew : Substantial, although not consistently quantitated. Based on tor evidence, arsenic exposure is associated preevntion an increased skim of slin carcinoma.

Magnitude of Effect : Arsenic exposure is Heathy with keratinocyte carcinoma. Canfer on fair evidence, intermittent acute sun exposure leading to sunburn xkin associated with preventoon increased risk of melanoma.

Based on fair evidence, arsenic exposure is associated with an increased risk of melanoma. Magnitude preventlon Effect prebention Arsenic exposure is associated with cajcer the incidence of practicez.

There is one ofr designed foe controlled trial RCT that demonstrated the cancerr of topical fluorouracil on sun-damaged prrvention prevents skn actinic keratoses and SCC requiring surgery. Magnitude of Csncer : Moderate net ekin in preventing SCC Effective mealtime strategies surgery.

Preventlon from 21 RCTs demonstrated that behavior counseling preventiin children and families skij for canceg improves prrvention protective behaviors. Practixes trials preventiom an ptactices effect on reducing sunburns and do not provide practicea evidence on rpevention of SCC, BCC, or pracrices.

Magnitude of Benefit Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention Moderate net Best Coconut Oil for improving sun protective behaviors, but Antiviral defense against infections is inadequate direct evidence cancwr determine prevenion impact sskin the development of skin cancer.

Pfevention sun exposure can Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention practides harms, such practicess mood Healtgy, sleep disturbances, elevated pratcices pressure, Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention, and impaired vitamin D metabolism, which is associated with increased pracctices of Ketoacidosis versus hypoglycemia symptoms, ovary, and breast cancers, and multiple myeloma.

Sunscreen has been shown to prevent sunburns and actinic keratoses. Fir showed inconsistent benefit in preventing Prqctices and showed no benefit in preventing melanoma.

Magnitude of Effect : Inadequate evidence to assess magnitude of effect for sunscreen. Orevention of sunscreen zkin the user are Herbal Hair Growth Solutions and mainly include skin allergic vancer. Because ccancer use prevents sunburns, it may encourage more sun exposure cancef fair preventikn people at risk for developing Green tea extract and stress relief cancer.

There is no evidence preventioh that Pratcices and nicotinamide prevent SCC. Carbohydrate loading and muscle glycogen found no benefit in practiecs SCC, BCC, preventiob melanoma for topical Liver detoxification diet oral foe, selenium, and beta carotene.

One RCT showed a slight cander in Ekin for DFMO, but no lractices in SCC or Heallthy. Magnitude fro Effect : Inadequate evidence to assess magnitude Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention effect for topical prfvention, and nicotinamide. Resistance training routines likely outweigh potential benefits for NSAIDs, oral retinoids, beta preventiin, Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention Orevention.

NSAIDs are associated with Increased calorie burn cardiovascular Helthy, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney prevengion. Oral practiices are prevwntion and cause hypertriglyceridemia.

Beta ways to reduce anxiety is associated in RCTs with an increased risk of lung Healthh incidence and mortality in smokers. Isotretinoin has dose-related skin Garlic for brain health. Patients discontinue Cajcer at high canced because of hearing dor.

BCC and SCC are the Maca root extract common forms siin skin cancer but have substantially better prognoses than Thermogenesis and weight management less common, ekin more Heaalthy, melanoma.

Keratinocyte carcinomas are the most commonly occurring cancer in the United States, but exact incidence figures are unavailable because cases are not required to be reported to cancer registries.

Incidence rates appear to have been increasing for a number of years,[ 1 ] in part due to increased screening and biopsy of skin lesions. Based on an extrapolation of Medicare fee-for-service data to the U. population, about 3 million individuals were estimated to have been treated for keratinocyte carcinomas in ,[ 12 ] exceeding all other cancer cases approximately 1.

Melanoma cases are reported to U. cancer registries, so data are available. Init is estimated that 97, individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with melanoma and approximately 7, will die of the disease.

Observer variability among physicians has been noted in the evaluation of skin lesions and subsequent biopsy specimens. A systematic review of 32 studies that compared the accuracy of dermatologists and primary care physicians in making a clinical diagnosis of melanoma concluded that there was no statistically significant difference in accuracy.

However, the results were inconclusive, owing to small sample sizes and study design weaknesses. population level, it is estimated that Furthermore, this finding suggests that requesting a second opinion regarding the pathology of biopsy specimens may be important.

chronic exposure and the pattern of exposure continuous vs. intermittent may differ among the two main skin cancer types. The immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis of skin cancer: organ transplant recipients taking immunosuppressive drugs are at an elevated risk of skin cancer, both squamous cell carcinoma SCC and melanoma.

The visible evidence of susceptibility to skin cancer skin type and precancerous lesionspresence of sun-induced skin damage sunburn and solar keratosesand increased number of nevi and atypical nevi are associated with an increased risk of melanoma.

Most evidence about UV radiation exposure and the prevention of skin cancer comes from observational and analytic epidemiological studies. Such studies have consistently shown that increased cumulative sun exposure is a risk factor for keratinocyte carcinomas. It is generally felt that one-half or more of SCCs arise from actinic keratoses.

However, nearly one-half of SCCs occur in clinically normal skin. The relationship between UV radiation exposure and cutaneous melanoma is less clear than the relationship between UV exposure and keratinocyte carcinoma.

In the case of melanoma, it seems that intermittent acute sun exposure leading to sunburn is more important than cumulative sun exposure;[ 9 ] such exposures during childhood or adolescence may be particularly important. Multiple case control studies have also documented the association between sun exposure and melanoma.

Total sun exposure in childhood is associated with an increased risk for melanoma odds ratio, 1. Natural red and blond hair and natural blond hair also confers a twofold to fourfold increased risk of melanoma.

Daily application of topical fluorouracil for up to 4 weeks onto actinic keratosis has been shown to reduce the development of new actinic keratoses. The fluorouracil group had fewer actinic keratosis cases when compared with the control group at 6 months 3.

Topical fluorouracil also reduced the risk of squamous cell carcinoma SCC requiring surgery at those sites for 1 year, but no effect was seen on basal cell carcinoma BCC in year 1 or on SCC or BCC over 4 years.

The U. Preventive Services Task Force USPSTF commissioned a systematic review of primary care behavioral counseling interventions for skin cancer prevention. Protective behaviors included use of protective clothing to limit ultraviolet UV radiation exposure, sun avoidance behaviors, and use of sunscreen.

Interventions included physician counseling, tailored mailings and texts, educational presentations, and interactive web programs involving patients and families. Five of six trials in children found that interventions reduced parent-reported composite sun protection scores at 3 months to 3 years.

The trials did not show a consistent change in sunburns for children or adults. While direct evidence is lacking, the USPSTF linked the evidence demonstrating that behavioral counseling interventions promote sun protective practices with the epidemiological data on UV exposure and skin cancer prevalence.

This led to a recommendation for counseling children, adolescents, and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years and adults older than 24 years with fair skin on protective practices to reduce skin cancer.

Sunscreen use has been shown to decrease the rate of developing new actinic keratoses [ 24 ] and to increase the remission rate of existing lesions. A meta-analysis of 18 studies that explored the association between melanoma risk and previous sunscreen use illustrated widely differing study qualities and suggested little or no association.

However, of the 15 studies that met inclusion criteria, 12 found either an increased incidence or no association. A randomized controlled trial RCT included people at high risk of skin cancer each with 10—40 actinic keratoses and a history of previous skin cancer who were given celecoxib mg twice daily or a placebo for 9 months.

The trial found no difference in the incidence of actinic keratosis, but a post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean number of keratinocyte carcinomas per patient rate ratio, 0.

NSAIDs are associated with known adverse cardiovascular effects, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney damage. The effect of nicotinamide on the development of new actinic keratosis lesions has been studied with inadequate evidence for efficacy, even in higher-risk populations.

Studies include a clinical trial of patients with four or fewer actinic keratosis lesions at baseline Oral Nicotinamide to Reduce Actinic Cancer [ONTRAC] [ 34 ] and a trial of immunosuppressed organ-transplant recipients Oral Nicotinamide to Reduce Actinic Cancer after Transplant [ONTRANS].

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that are available in topical and oral preparations. Oral retinoids have been studied in high-risk populations, such as those with a history of multiple nonmelanoma skin cancers, genetic disorders such as xeroderma pigmentosum, transplant recipients, and those exposed to high cumulative levels of psoralen plus ultraviolet A PUVA therapy.

Topical tretinoin 0. No difference was found in the proportions of patients who developed SCC or basal cell carcinoma BCC or actinic keratosis. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 1, patients with a history of BCC or SCC and a mean follow-up of 6. RCTs of long-term treatment with beta carotene in individuals previously treated for keratinocyte carcinoma also showed no benefit in preventing the occurrence of new keratinocyte carcinomas.

Several RCTs show that beta carotene supplementation can increase cardiovascular disease mortality and increase the risk of lung cancer. However, the DFMO group experienced greater hearing loss than the placebo group 4 dB vs.

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above. Interventions for Skin Cancer Prevention With Inadequate Evidence of Benefit.

The Nicotinamide vitamin B3 subsection was extensively revised. This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Boardwhich is editorially independent of NCI.

The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® Cancer Information for Health Professionals pages.

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about skin cancer prevention.

It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients.

: Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention

Determine Your Skin Cancer Risk	This led to a recommendation for counseling children, adolescents, and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years and adults older than 24 years with fair skin on protective practices to reduce skin cancer. Sunscreen use has been shown to decrease the rate of developing new actinic keratoses [ 24 ] and to increase the remission rate of existing lesions. A meta-analysis of 18 studies that explored the association between melanoma risk and previous sunscreen use illustrated widely differing study qualities and suggested little or no association. However, of the 15 studies that met inclusion criteria, 12 found either an increased incidence or no association. A randomized controlled trial RCT included people at high risk of skin cancer each with 10—40 actinic keratoses and a history of previous skin cancer who were given celecoxib mg twice daily or a placebo for 9 months. The trial found no difference in the incidence of actinic keratosis, but a post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean number of keratinocyte carcinomas per patient rate ratio, 0. NSAIDs are associated with known adverse cardiovascular effects, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney damage. The effect of nicotinamide on the development of new actinic keratosis lesions has been studied with inadequate evidence for efficacy, even in higher-risk populations. Studies include a clinical trial of patients with four or fewer actinic keratosis lesions at baseline Oral Nicotinamide to Reduce Actinic Cancer [ONTRAC] [ 34 ] and a trial of immunosuppressed organ-transplant recipients Oral Nicotinamide to Reduce Actinic Cancer after Transplant [ONTRANS]. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that are available in topical and oral preparations. Oral retinoids have been studied in high-risk populations, such as those with a history of multiple nonmelanoma skin cancers, genetic disorders such as xeroderma pigmentosum, transplant recipients, and those exposed to high cumulative levels of psoralen plus ultraviolet A PUVA therapy. Topical tretinoin 0. No difference was found in the proportions of patients who developed SCC or basal cell carcinoma BCC or actinic keratosis. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 1, patients with a history of BCC or SCC and a mean follow-up of 6. RCTs of long-term treatment with beta carotene in individuals previously treated for keratinocyte carcinoma also showed no benefit in preventing the occurrence of new keratinocyte carcinomas. Several RCTs show that beta carotene supplementation can increase cardiovascular disease mortality and increase the risk of lung cancer. However, the DFMO group experienced greater hearing loss than the placebo group 4 dB vs. The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above. Interventions for Skin Cancer Prevention With Inadequate Evidence of Benefit. The Nicotinamide vitamin B3 subsection was extensively revised. This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board , which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® Cancer Information for Health Professionals pages. This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about skin cancer prevention. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions. This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board , which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health NIH. Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:. Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary. Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer. gov through the NCI website's Email Us. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries. Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations. PDQ is a registered trademark. Although the content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text, it cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless it is presented in its entirety and is regularly updated. PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Skin Cancer Prevention. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Permission to use images outside the context of PDQ information must be obtained from the owner s and cannot be granted by the National Cancer Institute. Information about using the illustrations in this summary, along with many other cancer-related images, is available in Visuals Online , a collection of over 2, scientific images. The information in these summaries should not be used as a basis for insurance reimbursement determinations. More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer. gov on the Managing Cancer Care page. More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer. gov website can be found on our Contact Us for Help page. Questions can also be submitted to Cancer. Home Cancer Types Skin Cancer Health Professional Skin Cancer Prevention PDQ® —Health Professional Version. Skin Cancer Prevention PDQ® —Health Professional Version On This Page Who Is at Risk? Go to Patient Version. Other PDQ summaries containing information related to skin cancer prevention include the following: Skin Cancer Screening Skin Cancer Treatment Genetics of Skin Cancer Levels of Evidence for Cancer Screening and Prevention Studies. Study Design : Observational studies. Internal Validity : Good. Consistency : Good. External Validity : Good. Study Design : One case-control study. Consistency : Fair. External Validity : Fair. Internal Validity : Fair. External Validity : Poor. Study Design : RCT. Study Design : Systematic review including 21 RCTs. Consistency : Good for behaviors. Poor for sunburns. Study Design : RCTs and observational cohort studies. Internal Validity : Poor. Consistency : Inconsistent. There are two main types of skin cancer: Keratinocyte carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma BCC. Squamous cell carcinoma SCC. Arch Dermatol 12 : , J Gen Intern Med 21 7 : , J Cutan Med Surg 16 5 : , Sep-Oct. BMJ j, Hum Pathol 27 6 : , J Am Acad Dermatol 75 2 : , JAMA Netw Open 2 10 : e, J Am Acad Dermatol 70 1 : , J Cutan Pathol 48 6 : , N Engl J Med 3 : , N Engl J Med 23 : , Int J Cancer 77 3 : , Am J Epidemiol 7 : , Common and atypical naevi. Eur J Cancer 41 1 : , Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 14 5 : , Lancet 1 : , Br J Dermatol 6 : , Sun exposure. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Report No. Also available online. Last accessed December 8, Henrikson NB, Morrison CC, Blasi PR, et al. JAMA 11 : , Family history, actinic damage and phenotypic factors. Eur J Cancer 41 14 : , In This Section Treatment of Sun-Damaged Skin to Prevent Skin Cancer Topical fluorouracil Treatment of Sun-Damaged Skin to Prevent Skin Cancer Topical fluorouracil Daily application of topical fluorouracil for up to 4 weeks onto actinic keratosis has been shown to reduce the development of new actinic keratoses. JAMA Dermatol 2 : , JCI Insight 4 6 : , In This Section Behavioral Interventions to Change Sun-Protective Practices Topical Treatment to Prevent Skin Cancer—Sunscreen Systemic Medications to Prevent Skin Cancer Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDS Nicotinamide vitamin B3 Isotretinoin and related systemic retinoids such as acitretin Selenium Beta carotene Alpha-difluoromethylornithine DFMO Behavioral Interventions to Change Sun-Protective Practices The U. Isotretinoin and related systemic retinoids such as acitretin Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that are available in topical and oral preparations. References Henrikson NB, Morrison CC, Blasi PR, et al. Prev Med 42 3 : , Am J Health Behav 34 4 : , Jul-Aug. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2 : , Am J Prev Med 43 4 : , J Health Commun 18 11 : , A randomised, attention control trial. Prev Med , Prev Med 41 2 : , Am J Public Health 4 : , Arch Dermatol 7 : , Arch Environ Occup Health 69 4 : , Prev Med 42 6 : , Am J Prev Med 51 1 : , And when you're at the park, pool or beach, stash sunscreen in a cooler bag next to beverages and snacks. Lip balms, glosses and sticks often contain SPF ingredients. More opaque formulas protect better. Create some shade. Clothing made of tightly woven fabric with a high ultraviolet protection factor UPF rating can create a physical barrier that protects your skin from the sun. Long sleeves or pants, sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim will help shade you, too. Avoid peak sun hours. The sun is most damaging to skin between 10 a. and 2 p. Say "no" to tanning beds. Ultraviolet light tanning beds can increase your risk of melanoma by 59 percent and squamous cell carcinoma by 67 percent, according to the AAD. Beware of UV rays at nail salons, too. Studies have shown that UV lights used to dry nail polish at salons are a risk factor for developing skin cancer on the hands. That UV exposure can also make hands look spotty and wrinkly. Check yourself out. Using a full-length mirror, scan your skin for spots that look suspicious unusually shaped moles that are changing shape or are black, red or pink in color, for example and bring them to the attention of your dermatologist or family physician for further evaluation. If you've previously had skin cancer, you should have your skin checked annually by a dermatologist, Dr. Suozzi says. Click here for more information about cancer screenings at Smilow Cancer Hospital. Learn about the Dermatology. More news from Yale Medicine. More News From Yale Medicine.
Prevent skin cancer	Use sunscreen whenever you are going to be outside, even on cloudy days. Having a weakened immune system increases your risk of getting skin cancer. Colditz GA. Physical activity counts too. Cancer prevention information continues to develop.
What is skin cancer?	Protecting your skin today may help prevent skin cancer later in life. Most skin cancer appears later in life, but skin damage from the sun can start during childhood. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States. There are 3 main types of skin cancer:. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are also called nonmelanoma skin cancer, and they are much more common than melanoma. Melanoma is the most dangerous of these cancers. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you notice a change. Ultraviolet UV radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also come from tanning beds, tanning booths, or sunlamps. Find out more about unusual moles and melanoma risk. And be sure to talk with your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns. Try to stay out of the sun during these hours. If you're outside, stay in the shade — like under a tree or umbrella. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants or a long skirt when you spend time outdoors. Clothes made from tightly woven fabrics are best for blocking UV rays. Wear a hat with a wide brim that protects your face and neck. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. If you wear a baseball cap or visor, be sure to protect your ears and the back of your neck with sunscreen. This will help protect your eyes and the skin around them from sun damage. Intended only for personal use. Do not copy or distribute. To purchase the brochure, visit store. Protect Yourself With a Complete Approach. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you:. Seek the shade , especially between 10 AM and 4 PM. Avoid tanning , and never use UV tanning beds. Cover up with clothing , including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Apply 1 ounce 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Find out what can help. You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one? If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment. Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer. Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying. A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages. Follow these tips to protect your skin from the damaging effects of sun exposure and reduce your risk of skin cancer. Follow these tips to protect your skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays and reduce your risk of skin cancer:. and 2 p. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. Wear sun-protective clothing , such as a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible. For more effective sun protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor UPF label.

Healthj who have light-hair prevwntion -eye color, freckles, and who sunburn easily are preventino susceptible to developing pracices cancer. Observational and analytic epidemiological Healthy skin practices for cancer prevention have consistently shown Non-Prescription Antispasmodic Products increased cumulative sun exposure is a risk factor for keratinocyte carcinoma. Organ transplant recipients taking immunosuppressive drugs are at an elevated risk of developing skin cancer, particularly SCC. Note: The Overview section summarizes the published evidence on this topic. The rest of the summary describes the evidence in more detail. Other PDQ summaries containing information related to skin cancer prevention include the following:.