Preventing Cancer
Protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. UV rays from the sun can reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. Indoor tanning (using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan) exposes users to UV radiation. The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure outdoors in the continental United States. UV rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.

Additional Facts/Tips

• Avoid tanning beds and tan accelerating agents.
• Cutaneous melanoma prevention begins with avoidance of exposure to the sun, especially during midday.
• During a skin cancer screening, your doctor will probably discuss your medical history and inspect your skin from head to toe — including areas not exposed to the sun. He or she will record the location, size, and color of any moles. If a mole looks unusual, he or she may arrange for a biopsy.
• Gain knowledge about the UV Index. The UV Index is issued daily to advise you on the strength of the sun's UV rays in your region. The higher the UV Index level, the greater the strength of the sun's UV rays and the faster you may burn. The UV Index was designed to help you make informed decisions about the time you spend in the sun.
• Schedule regular skin checkups.
• Those who cannot avoid the sun should limit direct sun exposure using:
  • Broad-brimmed hats
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Pants
  • Sun-resistant fabrics
  • Sunscreen

How to Protect from UV Radiation
CDC recommends easy options for protection from UV radiation:

Seek shade
This is important, especially during midday hours. You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you need relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you're outside — even when you're in the shade.

Wear a Hat

• If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck. For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.

Wear Clothing to Protect Exposed Skin

• If wearing this type of clothing isn't practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well.
• Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection from the sun's UV rays. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors.

Wear Sunglasses That Wrap Around

• Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.
• Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

Use Sunscreen with Sun Protective Factor (SPF) 15 or Higher, UVA & UVB Protection

• Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.
• Some make-up and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. If they do not have at least SPF 15, don't use them by themselves.
• Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours, and after you swim or do things that make you sweat.
• Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
• The sun's UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Don't forget to put a thick layer on all parts of exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back.
• The United States Food and Drug Administration has announced significant changes to sunscreen product labels that will help consumers decide how to buy and use sunscreen, and allow them to protect themselves and their families from sun-induced damage more effectively.
• Understand how sunscreen works. Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor.

Avoid Indoor Tanning
Using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan is called indoor tanning. Indoor tanning has been linked with skin cancers including:

• Cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma)
• Melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer)
• Squamous cell carcinoma