How can you prevent skin cancer?

What are the risk factors for skin cancer? A number of things may put you at higher risk of having skin cancer some day:

* Having fair skin, red or blond hair
* Having light-colored eyes
* Sunburning easily
* Having many moles, freckles or birthmarks
* Working or playing outside
* Being in the sun a lot as a child
* Having had a serious sunburn
* Having family members with skin cancer
* Tanning in the sun or with a sunlamp

Tips on preventing skin cancer

* Avoid the sun, especially from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the sun's rays are the strongest.
* Don't use tanning booths or sunlamps.
* Wear protective clothing and hats.
* Check your skin yourself every month for signs of skin cancer.
* If you see an area on your skin that looks unusual, ask your family doctor about it.

This is excerpt from a Google Search, Familydoctor.org website… http:// familydoctor. org /online/ famdocen/ home/ common/ cancer/risk/ 159. html