Written by Jenna Currier, MSMS Policy Fellow
May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This month aims to increase awareness about skin cancer, encourage regular skin screenings, and emphasize that skin cancer can occur in individuals of all skin types.
Another important date is Melanoma Awareness Day, observed on the first Monday of May each year. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It is estimated that 234,680 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2026, and approximately 8,510 people will die from the disease.
Melanoma can often be detected early by checking your skin regularly for the “ugly duckling” sign - a mole or spot that looks different from the others - and by remembering the ABCDEs of melanoma:
- A- Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half
- B- Border: Irregular, uneven, or poorly defined borders
- C- Color: Multiple colors or uneven color distribution
- D- Diameter: Greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
- E- Evolution: Changes in size, shape, color, or symptoms over time
Below are ways you can improve your skin health and reduce your risk of skin cancer:
- If the ultraviolet (UV) index is greater than 3, wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen should be worn daily, even on cloudy days, because UV rays can still penetrate through clouds. Regular sunscreen use helps prevent skin cancer and premature skin aging. Other ways to reduce the harmful effects of the sun:
- Wearing hats
- Wearing protective clothing
- Staying in the shade
- Wearing sunglasses
- Reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating
- Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds can increase your risk of skin cancer by 2-8 times. Those who start using indoor tanning beds < 35 years old have a 75% increased chance of developing melanoma. Even limited tanning bed exposure can substantially increase skin cancer risk.
To keep your skin healthy and protected, make sunscreen part of your daily routine! Many moisturizers now include built-in SPF to help protect your skin every day.
Resources for your patients: