Ahhh, May.  Spring is here, pools are open, and summer vacation plans are being made! There is something else that happens in May that could affect your life: May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. According to The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, there are more than 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed and 2.2 million people treated in the U.S. each year.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also come from tanning booths or sunlamps. The most dangerous kind of skin cancer is called melanoma. Here in Las Vegas the hot desert climate can scorch your skin and create damaging effects in a matter of minutes.

Take some simple steps today to protect your skin:

• Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Put on sunscreen every 2 hours and after you swim or sweat.
• Cover up with long sleeves and a hat.
• Check your skin once a month for changes.
• Don’t let the clouds fool you. UV radiation can penetrate clouds, so don’t neglect sunscreen on a cloudy day.

Be smart about sun safety, perform a skin self exam monthly to look for changes, and encourage others to do the same! And stay out of the tanning bed! Using indoor tanning beds before age 35 can increase your risk of melanoma by 59%. No tan is worth that risk.

To reverse any cosmetic damage you’ve received from over-exposure to the sun, schedule a consultation with us online or call 702.496.2066.