Did you know? Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.

During Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, our team at AFC Urgent Care North Carolina wants you to know how you can best protect your skin, especially when it comes to skin cancer.

Is Skin Cancer Common?

Yes, skin cancer is incredibly common. In fact, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with some type of skin cancer by age 70. More than 108,000 cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year alone.

Therefore, it is important to make sure you are doing all you can to protect your skin on a daily basis.

Ways to Care for Skin in Sun

• Use sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy
• Put sunscreen on at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside
• Use a sunscreen with a UVA and UVB protection factor of at least 30 or more
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours
• Seek shelter in the shade, if possible
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts when possible, along with hats and sunglasses

What Are the Signs of Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer can be tricky to uncover, but early detection is key. Keep a careful eye on your skin, looking for any spots that change over time in particular.

There are some traits that may indicate a spot on your skin needs to be checked by a doctor. Even if you don’t spot those signs, a yearly skin check is recommended.

Signs of Skin Cancer

• New spot on skin
• Change in size, shape or color of an existing mole
• Mole has an irregular shape
• Borders are not smooth but irregular or notched
• Mole has uneven shading or dark spots

Are you in need of medical care? Schedule an AFC TeleCare appointment with one of our AFC Urgent Care North Carolina locations today. Get the care you need in the comfort of home.