How to Prevent Skin Cancer

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Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it is also one of the most preventable. The most important thing you can do to prevent skin cancer is to protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays from sunlight and indoor tanning, such as tanning beds or lamps, can damage skin cells and increase your risk of skin cancer.

With simple steps, you can protect your skin and lower your skin cancer risk.

Know your risk of skin cancer

Everyone is at risk of skin cancer, but some people have a greater risk. Risk can increase if you have:

Fair skin, light hair, or light eyes
A personal or family history of skin cancer
A weakened immune system

Your risk is also higher if you:

Spend a lot of time in the sun
Use tanning beds or sun lamps
Have had a lot of sunburns, especially as a child
Take certain medicines or had treatments that make skin more sensitive to the sun

Sunburns damage the cells in your skin. This damage can build up over time. When this happens, it increases your risk of skin cancer.

Some medicines, chemotherapy and radiation can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. This can cause you to get sunburns more easily.

Radiation treatment can raise the risk of skin cancer. This usually happens in the area of the skin where radiation was given. For childhood cancer survivors treated with radiation, skin cancer is the most common second cancer.

Use sunscreen

Use sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin:

At least 30 minutes before going outside
On both sunny and cloudy days
Every 2 hours
After swimming or sweating

Zinc oxide can give extra protection on the nose, cheeks, shoulders, and tops of the ears.

Wear protective clothing

Choose clothing that can protect skin from UV rays, including:

A hat with a wide brim
Sunglasses that block 99–100% of UV rays
Tightly woven, loose-fitting clothes that cover your arms and legs

Limit time in the sun

UV rays are strongest when the sun is highest in the sky, usually between late morning and mid-afternoon. Try to stay inside during this time as much as you can.

Find shade

Stay in the shade when UV rays are strongest. Shade can reduce the UV rays that reach your skin, but it does not protect you completely. Always use sunscreen when you are outside during the day. 

Check the UV index

The UV index shows how strong the UV rays are during the day. It can range from 0–12.

0–2: Low
3–5: Moderate
6–7: High
8–10: Very high
11–12: Extreme

If you live in the United States, you can find local UV index forecasts on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. Enter your ZIP code or use the mobile app. 

Do not use tanning beds or sun lamps

Indoor tanning, including beds, lamps, bulbs, and booths, give UV rays like the sun. These rays can damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer.  

Self-tanning lotions and spray tans do not expose skin to UV rays. They do not protect skin from the sun. 

Do skin self-exams

Checking your skin regularly can help you notice changes early, so you can treat skin cancer before it grows and spreads.

When doing a skin self-exam, look for:

New moles or spots
Changes in size, shape, or color of spots you already have
Sores that do not heal
Spots that bleed, itch, or feel tender

Contact a health care provider if you notice any changes.

See a dermatologist

A dermatologist is a doctor who treats skin conditions. Ask your health care provider how often you should have a full body skin exam or skin cancer screening. Some people may need skin exams more often based on their risk.