Skin Cancer - According to the American Academy of Dermatology's 2007 Skin Cancer Fact sheet:
- Skin cancer makes up more than 50% of diagnosed cancers each year.
- 1 out of 5 Americans will become victims of skin cancer at some point in their lives.
- An estimated 1 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2007.
- You double your risk of contracting skin cancer if you have had 5 or more sunburns in your lifetime.
If you are worried about skin cancer, check out how to get Free Skin Cancer Screening or learn How to do a Skin Self-Examination.
Protect Your Skin - The best thing you can do is have some sunscreen or sunblock on hand at all times. I try to keep some in may car as well as other places where I am likely to need some. I don't like to be caught off guard, so to speak.
5 Common Sunscreen Mistakes - We all know that regularly using sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes when it comes to wearing sunscreen. Properly applying sunscreen and following manufacturer instructions are key to maximum protection. This article on Applying Sunscreen Correctly Maximizes Skin Cancer Prevention is very helpful.
Self-Tanners - If you want a tan without the harmful rays of the sun, then try a self tanner. The better quality self tanning products whether in cream, gel or spray form are made with the same active ingredient which stimulates pigment in the skin rather than dying it. These better quality self tanners offer a natural looking tan, not orangey. I have compiled a list of top selling self tanners which alleviates some of the guess work when trying to pick one for yourself.
Furthermore, you may want to try several sunless tanning products to see which one works best with your own skin and coloring. Trust me on this, I had a terrible and embarrassing experience the first time I tried a self-tanner and subsequently wrote these tips on What You Need to Know About Self Tanning.
