Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Chances are you know someone who has had skin cancer. That is because it is the most common cancer worldwide. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the US than all other cancers combined, and this number is growing each year. The beginning of summer is a great time to remind yourself how to prevent and detect skin cancer.
Did you know the skin is the largest organ in the human body? Skin serves multiple purposes, including protecting from injury and infection, controlling your temperature, and storing water, fat, and vitamin D. Skin can be vulnerable to UV damage from the sun, and as absorption of substances such as cosmetic products, medications, and chemicals through direct contact.
Skin cancers are categorized as melanoma or non-melanoma. Non-melanoma cancers are further broken down by the type of skin cell in which they are found in. Basal and squamous cell cancers are the most commonly diagnosed skin cancers in the US. These cancers are slow-growing and, although rare, if left untreated, they do have the potential to grow into bones and other body tissues. These types of cancers can often be cured by removal. While skin cancer can develop anywhere, it is most often found on skin exposed to the sun.
Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. It is found in the skin cells that give skin its color. This skin cancer can quickly and easily spread through the layers of skin and into nearby tissues and organs. Once it has spread, it can be very difficult to treat. Finding and treating melanoma in its earliest stages gives you the best chance of survival.
Taking care of your skin to avoid skin cancer takes several different approaches. Prevention and early detection are key. Cancer prevention aims to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors. Some risk factors we have control over, while others are part of our genetic make-up. Anyone can get skin cancer, but those with fair skin, freckles, blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair, many moles, or a personal or family history of skin cancer are at the highest risk.
Take these steps to prevent skin cancer:
- Avoid tanning beds and intentional outdoor tanning.
- Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or more every day, all year long. Use at least 1 oz (2 tablespoons) at least 30 minutes before going outdoors.
- Replace products prior to the expiration date to assure effectiveness.
- Don’t forget your ears, neck, head, and feet. Protect lips with an SPF lip balm.
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if swimming or sweating.
- Seek shade especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest.
- Wear protective clothing: UPF clothing or a lightweight long-sleeved shirt, hat, and sunglasses.
- Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreen can be used on infants 6 months and older.
- Avoid sunburn. Having five or more sunburns can double your risk of skin cancer.
A “base tan” does not protect you from sun damage and sunburn. A tan is damage to your skin. It may give you the glow you desire, but it can also give you wrinkles, leathery skin, and the potential for skin cancer. UV damage to the skin accumulates over your lifetime. For this reason, most states have restricted tanning bed use for minors. Children and teens must understand the impact sun exposure can have. Starting sun protective habits early in life goes beyond protecting them from painful sunburn; it can help them reduce cumulative UV damage and prevent them from developing skin cancer.
Early diagnosis is dependent on monitoring your skin. Monthly skin checks are recommended to identify any changes to skin or moles. Check your skin from head to toe. Skin cancers can often be mistaken for moles or freckles. Although some moles can develop into skin cancer, most skin cancers arise from new skin spots. It may be helpful to take pictures, use a mirror, enlist the help of a partner, use a tracking app, or keep track with a body mole map. Apps can be helpful in giving reminders or helping keep track of moles, but they should not be used in place of professional advice from your provider.
What should you look for?
- New growths or spots
- “Ugly duckling” spots-those that stand out as different than other skin spots
- A- Asymmetry or spots that don’t match with the other side
- B- Borders are irregular
- C- Color changes in a spot or a spot that contains two or more different colors
- D- Diameter may be the size of a pencil eraser
- E- Evolving or changing freckles, moles, or other skin spots
- Sores that don’t heal
- Rough or itchy patch of skin that doesn’t go away
What should you do if you have concerns about a skin spot?
See your primary care provider or dermatologist. During the month of June, Crossing Rivers Health Primary Care Providers are offering free skin cancer screenings. The general public, as well as current patients of Crossing Rivers Health Primary Care Clinic are eligible for these screenings at no cost. Schedule your appointment by calling our clinic at 608.357.2500. If an area is found to be abnormal, the provider will discuss options for removal. Please bring your insurance information with you, as charges will apply if any further testing or treatment is needed. Check your skin for cancer or pre-cancers, learn more about skin protection and the signs of skin cancer, and receive complimentary sunscreen.
Follow these suggestions to prevent and detect skin cancer at its earliest stages. Follow sun safety habits for yourself and your family. Be proactive rather than reactive. Ask anyone who has had it; it is not “just” skin cancer.
National Cancer Institute. (October 23, 2023). Skin Cancer Prevention-Patient Version. https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/skin-prevention-pdq
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (January 2025). Skin Cancer Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (March 2025). Skin Cancer Prevention: Protect Yourself With a Complete Approach. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/