Being out in the sun feels great, but it’s not so great for your skin. Sun exposure can damage your skin, and cause skin cancer. Your dermatologist can help you protect your skin. The Dermatologists of The Dermatology Center at Ladera in Ladera Ranch, CA, provide comprehensive skin care services, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of skin cancer.
What You Need to Know about Skin Cancer
When you spend time out in the sun, without sun protection, the ultraviolet rays can damage your skin. The effects of sun exposure accumulate over time. Your skin cells can become cancerous, causing different types of skin cancer, including:
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
You need to do everything you can to protect your skin. These are some important tips on how to enjoy the sun and help prevent skin cancer too:
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher if you plan to be outside for long periods of time
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 if you are fair-skinned, burn easily, or have a high risk of skin cancer
- Avoid using tanning booths
- Stay out of the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM, when UV rays are the most damaging
- Wear clothing that blocks the sun, including hats and sunglasses
- Perform a self-check of your skin regularly
When you do your self-check, you need to pay attention to:
- Areas of dry, scaly, itchy, or red skin that don’t go away
- Large moles with a diameter of 6 millimeters or greater
- Irregularly shaped moles that have ragged, uneven borders
- Moles that have changed in size, shape, or color
- Moles that have come back after a previous removal
Regular visits to your dermatologist are also important, especially if you are at high risk of skin cancer. Your dermatologist can check your skin for any abnormal areas and perform a biopsy to determine if there are precancerous or cancerous changes, so they can be treated early.
Talk with Your Dermatologist Today
To discover more tips to prevent skin cancer this summer, call the Dermatologists of The Dermatology Center at Ladera in Ladera Ranch, CA. You can reach them in the office by calling (949) 364-8411, so call today.
