Almost everyone is well aware of how dangerous cancer is. What they may not know is, the most common form of cancer is skin cancer. There are currently around one million Americans who either have melanoma or had it at some point in the past. It’s why you should pay attention to your skin and get tested for melanoma, especially if you find any moles that have developed irregularities (such as if they don’t match other moles, change color, get bigger or are not symmetrical). The following are four facts about skin cancer everyone should know:

1. There are several types of skin cancer – Melanoma is the skin cancer that most are familiar with, but it’s not the most common (although it is the most likely to grow and spread). The other main types of skin cancer include Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
2. Artificial tanning can increase the risk of skin cancer – According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, using a tanning bed can increase your risk of developing skin cancer by as much as 20 percent. This is because tanning beds often use UVA rays, which degenerate collagen and are more oncogenic.
3. Using suntan lotion can help prevent skin cancer – Overexposure to the sun’s rays can increase the risk of skin cancer, which is why you should wear suntan lotion when you plan on spending time outside. You should get an SPF 50 product for the best results.
4. Skin cancer is a genetic condition – Overexposure to the sun will increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Having a history of skin cancer in your family also increases your risk. You’re much more likely to develop it if your parents or siblings had or have melanoma, which means that you should be particularly careful when going out into the sun.

For more information on skin cancer or about getting the proper health insurance, contact us at The Benefits Store.