I was happy to see that Fred was wearing a three-inch brimmed hat , protective clothing and sunscreen.   He said, "I know years of exposure to the sun contributed to my developing melanoma. I wish I had been more careful in the past."

Fred’s sun protection regimen starts in the early morning by applying sunscreen immediately after he gets out of the shower, and putting on his hat when going outdoors.  I told Fred it was gratifying to see a former patient taking such good precautions to protect his skin from the harmful effects of the sun. I hoped that if ever again I ran into him, I would find him continuing to do so.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with and treated for melanoma, should have yearly follow-up skin examinations. It is important for people, both with and without a history of melanoma, to have their skin moles evaluated. Using ‘ABC’ (Asymmetry, Border Color and Diameter) is a convenient way to assess moles.  Early signs of malignant melanoma are asymmetrical borders that are irregular and uneven with raised edges. And the various shades of black-and-brown moles should raise suspicion. Benign moles are often one shade of brown. Lastly, melanomas are larger than 6 mm.

Beware of the sun! Whether you are enjoying a game of golf in Orlando, planting the most beautiful garden in Texas or traveling to Jamaica, you are a target for sun damage. The sun’s rays cause  undesirable photo damage to the cancer of the skin. Protect yourself from the harmful solar damage by following the easy acronym TIPS.

Time your outdoor activities wisely. Sunlight emits ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB is responsible for most skin damage. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Outdoor activities are necessary but, as said earlier, plan and time them wisely.

Invest in a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Make sure the sunscreen has ‘paba-free’ and ‘acne-free’ ingredients. These will help protect your skin from irritating chemicals and acne-forming agents.

Protect your skin with tightly woven clothing that will not let the sun rays filter through. And wear a two- to three-inch brimmed hat.

Sunscreen should be applied one-half to one hour before going outdoors, and reapplied 45 to 60 minutes after swimming or excessive sweating. Remember to apply the sunscreen on to the areas that were exposed to the sun (scalp, nose, ears, the V of the neck, forearms and hands).

Please remember that while ‘ABCs’ are helpful guidelines, they are not definitive to diagnosing melanoma. Therefore, it is important to see your dermatologist once a year..the sooner, the better.