Melanoma: What You Can Do About It

Melanoma is a skin cancer that affects people of all ages and genders. You can get melanoma if you are genetically prone to the disease — such as if you have family members who have done through the condition themselves — you spend a lot of time out in the sun without wearing sun protection, you have lighter skin, or you have other conditions that may make you more prone to get this disease.

Like many cancers, if caught early enough, melanoma is treatable and isn't always fatal. It's catching melanoma as it forms and then preventing future recurrences that you should be heavily watching out for. Learn what you can do about melanoma so you can keep you and your family safe against this disease. If you do get melanoma, then visiting a melanoma cancer treatment specialist will be your best option for helping you heal successfully.

Wear sunscreen

Whether you prefer to wear your own home-made SPF or you buy sunscreen from the store, the key to using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer is to apply it appropriately to all areas of your body and to apply the lotion or spray often. Follow the instructions on the label of your sunscreen bottle and make sure to apply the sun block on all areas of your body that are exposed to the sun, including any exposed parts in your hair.

Wear protective clothing

Wear clothing that will help block and reflect the sun to further protect your skin against disease. Long-sleeved shirts, hats, pants, socks, and other gear will help prevent the sun from getting to your body. If you aren't fully covered against the sun, then sit in shaded areas and do what you can to block the sun from directly touching your body for long periods of time.

Remember: your eyes get sunburned too. Wear sunglasses to keep your eyes from getting sunburned, which can be very painful to the whites of your eyes while causing vision issues at the same time.

See your dermatologist

Whether you see a mole or a change in your skin or not, use your dermatologist to your advantage and make sure you visit your doctor regularly. Your dermatologist will help you determine if you should be concerned about any skin changes and will give you further advice for keeping your skin healthy and melanoma-free.

Your skin cancer concerns are valid. Take care of your skin and work with your dermatologist to keep this skin cancer type at bay. For more information, contact clinics like Heibel Dermatology.