Skin Cancer Awareness: Sun Safety Every Day

What to know

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays causes most cases of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer. To lower your risk, protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning.

More than sunscreen, all year

You probably use sunscreen at the pool or beach. But sun protection matters all year, and it works best when you combine several kinds. Yard work, a ballgame, an afternoon walk — make sun safety an everyday habit to avoid sunburn and lower your chance of skin cancer.

CDC's sun safety video shows how (audio description).

Pack a sun-safe tote bag

Keep a bag ready to grab whenever you head out:

• a lightweight long-sleeved shirt or cover-up;
• a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, head, ears and neck;
• sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB;
• broad-spectrum sunscreen (UVA and UVB) with SPF 15 or higher.

More tips

• Stay in the shade, especially from late morning through mid-afternoon.
• No shade? Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
• Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, and after swimming, sweating or toweling off.
• Learn to protect yourself from heat-related illness.

Fast facts

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and comes in several types.
• The sun's UV rays can damage unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes.
• Cool and cloudy days still call for protection: UV rays, not heat, do the damage.
• Anyone can get skin cancer, but some things raise your risk.
• The most common signs are skin changes: a new growth, a sore that doesn't heal, or a change in a mole.

Sources

Based on "Skin Cancer Awareness," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 13, 2025; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The page's stock picture of a beach tote is not reproduced; its video is on YouTube only.