Skin Care Facts
Risk Reduction
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun. When used consistently, sun-protective practices can reduce a person's risk of developing skin cancer. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends five easy options for sun protection:
- Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), when UV rays are stronger and do the most damage
- Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin
- Get a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck
- Grab shades that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible
- Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. (Consult your dermatologist regarding the ingredients of your sunscreen. All sunscreens are not created equal. The ingredients are more protective than an increased SPF product.)
Statistics
Health Statistics -- Comparative Incidence Rates (per year) of Skin Cancer:
- Skin Cancer Diagnoses: 1,059,941
- Breast Cancer Diagnoses: 180,510
- Prostrate Cancer Diagnoses: 218,890
- Lung Cancer Diagnoses: 213,380
- AIDS Diagnoses: 44,198
Our Mission
To create public awareness of the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun and educate people about preventive safety measures to avoid or lessen the chances of developing melanoma
or one of the other preventable skin cancers.
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