Prevention of Basal Cell Carcinoma

What can I do to reduce the risk of basal cell carcinoma?

• Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible.
• Seek the shade when appropriate, especially when the sun's rays are the strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Regularly use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher on all exposed skin, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
• Protect children from the sun by using shade, protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.
• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand, which can reflect the sun's rays and increase the chances of sunburn.
• Avoid tanning beds. The UV (ultraviolet) light from tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling.
• Check your birthday suit on your birthday. Look at your skin carefully and if you see any lesion(s) changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see your doctor.
• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet (which may include vitamin supplements.) Don't seek out the sun.