Skin Cancer Prevention: Know Your ABC’s [Video]

Presented by Elise Garrick, GBS Population Health Education Lead

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US. It develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms, and hands, and on the legs. If untreated, skin cancer can cause serious complications and be life-threatening. It’s important to be educated on signs and symptoms of skin cancer to prevent this disease.

What Can You Do to Prevent Skin Cancer?
Be Educated. Perform self-skin checks regularly so you can recognize any significant changes. Report changes to your doctor for further analysis.
Avoid tanning beds and direct sun exposure. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. Try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day.
Seek Shade. Set up a shade sail, tent or oversized umbrella for yourself and children when playing outside.
Wear sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or perspiring.
Wear protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, and sunglasses that block both types of UV radiation.

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