Not all basal and squamous cell skin cancers can be prevented. But there are things you can do that may reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Limit ultraviolet (UV) exposure
The best way to lower the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer is to limit your exposure to strong sunlight. Be "sun safe" when you are outdoors. "Slip! Slop! Slap! … and Wrap" is a catch phrase that can help remind you of the 4 steps you can take to protect yourself and those you love from UV rays:
- Slip on a shirt
- Slop on sunscreen
- Slap on a hat
- Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them
Protect your skin with clothing
Some clothes give more protection than others. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or long skirts are the best. Dark colors are better than light colors. A tightly woven fabric protects better than loosely woven clothing. If you can see light through a fabric, UV rays can get through, too. Dry fabric is most often better than wet fabric.
Some clothing is made with built-in UV protection. There are also newer products that can increase the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of clothes you already own. Used like laundry detergents, they add a layer of UV protection to your clothes without changing the color or how the cloth feels.
Wear a hat
A hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim all around is best because it protects areas often exposed to the sun, such as the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. A shade cap (which looks like a baseball cap with about 7 inches of fabric draping down the sides and back) also is good. These are often sold in sports and outdoor supply stores.
A baseball cap can protect the front and top of the head, but not the neck or the ears. Straw hats are not as good as ones that are made of tightly woven fabric.
Use sunscreen
Use sunscreen and lip balm. Many groups like the American Academy of Dermatology recommend using products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Be sure to use enough (a palmful) and put it on again every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days. For it to work best, sunscreen should be put on about 20 to 30 minutes before you go outside.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that because you're using sunscreen, you can stay out in the sun longer. Sunscreen should not be used to gain extra time in the sun, because you will still end up with damage to your skin.
If you want a tan, one option is a sunless tanning lotion. These can make you look tan without the danger. You do not have to go out in the sun for these to work. The color tends to wear off after a few days. Most sunless tanning lotions don’t protect very much from UV rays. If you use one, you should still take other measures mentioned above to protect your skin.
Wear sunglasses
Wrap-around sunglasses that absorb at least 99% of the UV rays help protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes.
Stay in the shade
Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day, between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun's rays are strongest. If you are not sure about how strong the sun is, use the shadow test: if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun's rays are the strongest, and you need to protect yourself. Keep in mind that sunlight (and UV rays) can come through clouds, reflect off water, sand, concrete, and snow, and can reach below the water's surface.
Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps
Don't use tanning beds or sun lamps. These also give off UV light and can increase the risk of skin cancer. They are not a safe way to get tan.
Protect children from the sun
Be especially careful about sun protection for children. Children tend to spend more time outdoors and they burn more easily. Teach them to protect themselves from the sun as they get older. Babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight and protected from the sun using clothing and hats. Sunscreen may be used on small areas of exposed skin only if enough clothing and shade are not available.
A word about sun exposure and vitamin D
Doctors are learning that vitamin D has many health benefits. It may even help to lower the risk for some cancers. Vitamin D is made by your skin when you are in the sun. How much vitamin D you make depends on many things, such as how old you are, how dark your skin is, and how brightly the sun shines where you live. When you can, it is better to get vitamin D from your diet or vitamins rather than from sun, because they do not increase the risk for skin cancer.
To find out more about how to protect yourself and your family from UV rays, see our document called Skin Cancer: Prevention and Early Detection.
Avoid harmful chemicals
Certain chemicals, such as arsenic, can increase a person's risk of skin cancer. People can be exposed to arsenic from well water in some areas, pesticides and herbicides, some medicines, and herbal remedies (arsenic has been found in some herbal remedies imported from China). Certain jobs, such as mining and smelting, can also expose workers to arsenic.
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