05/01/2026
Did you know?
May is Skin Cancer Awareness month! Occurring every May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month is 31 days devoted to shining the spotlight on:
-How to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer
-How to find skin cancer early when it's highly treatable
-The fact that people of all skin tones develop skin cancer
Skin Cancer Awareness Month is important because it's estimated that every day about 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer. Many people can reduce their skin cancer risk by protecting their skin from the sun and not using tanning beds.
To get protection from skin cancer, sunburn, and premature skin aging, the AAD recommends that everyone use sunscreen that offers:
Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays)
SPF 30 or higher
Water resistance
If sun protection is recommended only on hot, sunny days, it’s misinformation. The sun can damage your skin every day, even on cold or cloudy days. That’s why you need to protect your skin from the sun when outdoors.
Keep in mind that sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. That’s why the AAD recommends that you do the following year-round to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer:
Seek shade when appropriate. The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can also look at your shadow. Any time your shadow is shorter than you, seek shade.
Wear sun-protective clothing. This includes a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection. For more effective protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label.
Apply sunscreen to all skin not covered by clothing. Use a sunscreen that offers UVA/UVB protection, SPF 30+, and water resistance.
Do you like looking tan? For people who want to look tan, dermatologists recommend using self-tanner. Enjoy this video from AAD demonstrating how to apply self-tanner!
These basic tips will help you apply self-tanner so you get even coverage and longer-lasting results.