You don't have to avoid the sun entirely, but you must learn how to use sunscreen correctly and follow safe sun practices to avoid skin cancer and prematurely aged skin.
Every year, about 5 million Americans are treated for skin cancer—an abnormal growth of skin cells that most often develops on areas exposed to the sun.
Most of us know we can get sunburned when we go to the beach or the lake in the summer, so we slather on the sunscreen. But we need to remember to protect all exposed skin at all times of the year, because the sun can damage the skin anytime, anywhere. And skin cancer can show up in unexpected places on the body.
I was diagnosed with skin cancer within days of turning 50 in October 2005. In the same month, I also got asthma and gingivitis—getting old was no fun! But I was lucky. All of my health problems were relatively minor and treatable.
Choosing a sunscreen can be confusing. Find out what to look for and learn other tips for preventing sun damage and protecting your skin and eyes this summer.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, probably making up more than half of all diagnosed cases of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). READ MORE