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Melanoma:

What are Melanoma Preventions?

In the past it was recommended to use sunscreens with an SPF rating of 30 or higher on exposed areas as older sunscreens more effectively blocked UVA with higher SPF.Currently, newer sunscreen ingredients effectively block both UVA and UVB even at lower SPFs. However, there are questions about the ability of sunscreen to prevent melanoma.This controversy is well discussed in numerous review articles, and is refuted by most dermatologists.

This correlation might be due to the confounding variable that individuals who used sunscreen to prevent burn might have a higher lifetime exposure to either UVA or UVB. See Sunscreen controversy for further references and discussions. Tanning, once believed to help prevent skin cancers, actually can lead to increase incidence of melanomas.

Severe sunburn is a major risk factor. Childhood sun exposure may present the greatest risk.The risk factor you can best control to reduce your risk of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. People who burn rather than tan, especially those who have red hair or blue eyes, also have a high risk and should take extra precautions to prevent melanoma.

This area may be a dark spot or an abnormal new mole. Other melanomas form from a mole or freckle that is already present in the skin. It is very hard to distinguish the difference between a malignant melanoma and a normal mole. When looking for danger signs in pigmented lesions of the skin a few simple rules are often used.

Have someone examine your scalp using a blow dryer to part your hair. Someone else also can examine your back and other areas that are hard to examine yourself. Watch for new moles and changes in existing moles.