The month of May was Skin Caner Prevention Month, which makes it a great time to learn more about skin cancer and how preventable it really is. But sun protection is important all year long, even on cloudy days, not just one month out of the year. One out of every five people in the United States will develop skin cancer at some point during their lives and doctors in the U.S treat total of 5.4 million cases of skin cancer every year. This makes skin cancer the most common kind of cancer by far. Over the past 30 years, there have been more skin cancer cases than any other type of cancer, and in fact more cases than all the other types of cancer combined according to skincancer.org.
Skin cancer is almost entirely preventable, making it unique among cancers. The most important tip for skin cancer prevention is limiting your sun exposure. A small amount of sun exposure each day is usually fine, but this should be limited to only around 20 minutes or less. Sunscreen should be worn as a precaution for almost all time spent outdoors, as it drastically reduces the chances of developing skin cancer.
Sunglasses are always wise when you’re outside, as is protective clothing. Simply wearing long sleeves can do a great deal to shield skin from the harmful effects of the sun, although regular t-shirt material only provides an SPF around 4. It’s also important to remember the more isolated parts of the body that get sun exposure. For example, many people neglect to put sunscreen on their hands. This can lead to not only premature aging, but also raises the risk of skin cancer.
Other areas that are often neglected are the top of the head, back of the neck and ears. This skin is particularly delicate and susceptible to burning. The risk of cancer in this area is just as high than it is on any other part of the skin. Chrome Dome Caps are a good option for sun protection because they are certified UPF 50+. The caps are designed to fit comfortably but snugly while protecting the head, neck, and ears. The caps block harmful UVA and UVB rays and are made from known-harmful chemical free recycled materials. Chrome Dome Caps Founder, Joe Murphy, uses his Chrome Dome whenever he’s enjoying the outdoors. He has been proudly skin cancer free since he began routinely wearing the first prototype.
Although May is Skin Cancer Prevention Month, skin cancer awareness is always important. Use these tips to protect you and your family year round and check out our blog “The Truth About Sunburns & Sun Protection” for signs of skin cancer.