Tips for Avoiding Skin Cancer for All Skin Tones

• Avoid direct sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Keep babies out of the sun entirely.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or activity/sweating.

• Don’t leave sunscreen in the car, because temperature fluctuations can cause it to break down and become less effective.

• Wear clothing that covers arms and legs.

• Wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect the face, ears, and neck.

• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Avoid indoor tanning beds.

• Examine skin from head to toe every month. Look for dark spots or patches, or growths that are growing, bleeding, or changing; sores that are slow to heal, or heal and return; patches of skin that feel rough and dry; and dark lines underneath or around fingernails or toenails. Be diligent in checking nail beds, palms, soles of the feet, the head, lower legs, the groin, and other places that get little sun. Contact a doctor if you have any concerns.

• See a board-certified dermatologist at least once a year for a full-body examination.

This article originally published in the August 22, 2022 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.