Prevention

The best way to prevent skin cancer is to keep the sun’s carcinogenic UV radiation out of the skin. This is called primary prevention and this is what Sun Safety for Kids is dedicated to promoting.

Secondary prevention refers to detecting skin cancer as soon as possible in order to reduce morbidity and mortality through early treatment. Recognizing the signs of skin cancer, conducting regular monthly skin self exams, and having a full body skin exam by a dermatologist, are examples of secondary prevention. 

Many people think of sunscreen products as being the mainstay of primary skin cancer prevention. They certainly are important, and can be quite effective when used properly. However, as detailed in our sunscreen section, there are many reasons why sunscreen can fail or yield limited results so we place other sun protection methods at the top of the list. 

For outdoor activities sunscreen is necessary for areas of skin that aren’t covered but we recommend long clothing, sun-protective hats, and seeking shade as among the top strategies for primary skin cancer prevention.