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Avoiding the sun when ultraviolet rays are the strongest (usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) is one of the best ways to avoid harmful sun exposure. Other strategies include:

Protective Clothing
Cover up when you're out in the sun. Clothes made of compacted fabrics that can't be seen through when held up to the light are best.

Sunscreen
A sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher is a good defender against the sun's UV rays. It should be applied about 20 minutes before going outside and should always be reapplied after swimming, drying off with a towel or sweating heavily.

Hats
Because your ears, neck and face tend to get the most exposure during full sunlight, a hat with a wide brim is your best bet.

Sunglasses
Your eyes need protection from the sun, too. Sunglasses that wrap around the eyes and temples are the best eyewear to protect against the various angles of UV rays.

Detecting Skin Cancer
Of the more than 1 million Americans diagnosed with skin cancer each year, about 60,000 of them will be diagnosed with melanoma, the most serious form of the disease. Although it's less common than basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma—the other two types of skin cancer—melanoma can become life threatening if not detected and treated early enough.

Recognizing changes in your skin and reporting them quickly to your doctor are critical steps in this process. Examining yourself in the mirror once a month can help you familiarize yourself with your skin, making it easier to detect even the smallest of changes in spots or moles that change shape, color, size and texture.

More about Skin Cancer

by Marsha Fink, M.D.
Medical Oncologist
Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center