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Living in Florida means we get to experience the sunshine all year round. Although catching rays feels great, we also need to be aware of our risk for skin cancer. The Medical Department Store is bringing you information for your skin health just in time for the summer season. Now is the time to prevent and detect your skin cancer risk. Today, we are going to give you facts about skin cancer and how to detect all forms of this cancer.
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Detecting skin cancer:
Stand in front of a full length mirror in a well-lit room to check your skin at least once a month. Check all areas of the skin and use a smaller, handheld mirror to check your back and hard to see areas. If you notice any changes in your skin, contact your doctor.
Preventing skin cancer:
- Always use sunscreen. This may seem like a given, but whenever you are outdoors, it is best to have a layer of sunscreen to protect your skin. Use at least a 15 SPF sunscreen and reapply every few hours. Reapplying is the key to saving your skin from frequent sun damage. Wearing sunscreen regularly can reduce your risk for melanoma by up to 50% according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
- Avoid sun burns at all cost. When you get 5 or more burns per year, your skin cancer risk increases greatly. Living in Florida means we have an increased risk for sunburn, so always apply sunscreen and wear clothing to protect parts of your body from burns.
- Avoiding tanning beds and UV beds. Time spent in tanning beds will increase the risk for melanoma and other forms of skin cancer by as much as 75%. It is important to stay out of tanning beds to avoid increasing the risk of skin cancer. Tanning beds can also cause irreversible aging affects.
Skin cancer is becoming more relevant in the United States, but it is also treatable if caught in time. The Medical Department Store is your area medical equipment provider. Contact us to learn more about our products and services.
Tags: skin cancer, skin cancer detection
