With more than one million cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year, it is the most common form of cancer in the United States. One out of every three newly diagnosed cancers is skin cancer, effecting one out of seven people each year in the U.S. alone.It is important to know that the sunburn you got 20 years ago can become skin cancer today. It takes only one serious sunburn toincrease your risk of skin cancer by as much as 50%. Scientists and doctors now know, for certain, that sun exposure is responsible for almost 90% of all skin cancer. Are you familiar with the early warning signs?

It is imperative that you become familiar with your skin in order to be aware of any changes in moles, discoloration or sores that do not heal. The spread of pigmentation beyond the borders of a mole or nodule can be an early sign of possible skin cancer. Scaliness, bleeding, oozing or a change in the appearance of a bump or nodule should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist, as well as any kind of unusual pain, sensation or burning of the skin. Early detection is most important for high survival rates.

Avoiding the sun between 10:00am-2:00pm is important. Sitting in the shade, especially for young children is important. Using protective clothing helps, as well. Skin cancer can occur any place on your body, however, the most common places are those that are not protected from the sun. Always wear a protective hat. Be sure you teach your children about sun protection. And remember. The skin cancer you have today, may have started when you were just a child.

While many people still like the look of a tan, we now know that a tan is your body's attempt to protect itself from damage. Also, tan skin is dead skin covering up beautiful, healthy skin. Younger people can still be seen bathing in the sun, using oils and even cocoa butter in order to get deep, dark tans. Many believe that going to tanning salons is better than direct sun exposure. However, tanning booths are also very damaging to your skin because they emit ultraviolet radiation. They too should be avoided especially without sunscreen.

Using sunscreen daily is imperative for healthy, youthful skin. Your daily sunscreen regime will help to reduce the signs of aging and reduce the signs of damage. But you must use it every day, rain or shine. It has been proven that ultraviolet rays continue to travel through clouds and can damage skin as well as direct sun exposure. Choosing the appropriate sunscreen based on your level of activity, as well as your skin type, is imperative for full protection.

To keep your skin at its healthiest, it is important that your sunscreen contain the following ingredients:

• Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB
• Anti-inflammatories
• Moisturizers
• Antioxidants such as Vitamins A, E and C

Invest in excellent sun protection for you and your family. Educate your children about the dangers of sun exposure, so that our children's generation can fully and intelligently protect themselves from a sun that becomes increasingly dangerous each year.