It’s officially summertime in my neck of the woods. Children are more likely to be found lying by the pool or running around at the spray ground instead of being indoors playing video games. Those endless hours spent in the sun are all fun and games, until you are in your twilight years and diagnosed with skin cancer. Knowing what steps to take to prevent skin cancer, as well as what signs to look for in the future, can still allow you to enjoy those lazy summer days by the pool.

The first and most obvious step is sunscreen. You should choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and reapply after physical activity, swimming, and towel drying. A good rule of thumb to follow is to reapply every 90 minutes in the sun. Another thing to consider when applying sunscreen is to find a sunscreen that protects against UV-A and UV-B rays. UV-B rays are the ones that can cause sunburn and UV-A rays cause more long-term effects such as premature skin aging. So when choosing a sunscreen, take a few minutes to read the label; you want a high SPF and protection from both types of UV rays.

The next thing you can do to practice sun safety is to slip on a shirt and a hat. There are many lightweight and breathable materials that can allow the wearer to remain cool and offer further sun protection. Rash guard shirts (sometimes called surf shirts) are often sold with swim wear. These shirts are fast drying, available in long and short sleeved styles, and contain an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) offering the same type of protection as sunscreen. It’s important to remember though that no fabric can fully block UV rays so sunscreen should still be applied. Hats offer protection to the face, ears and back of the neck; areas often overlooked when applying sunscreen.

Now that you know the basic steps to protecting yourself from UV rays, let’s talk about what you should look for in the future. All you have to do is remember your ABC’s, or as it applies to skin cancer your ABCD’s. That is because the first sign of skin cancer often occurs in the change of the size, shape, color, and feel of existing moles.

A is for asymmetry. That is where one half of the mole does not match the other half. B is for border irregularity. Normal moles have smooth edges. When you have border irregularity the edges of the mole are ragged, uneven or notched. C is for color. This one is pretty self explanatory. Moles should have the same color all over. If half of your mole is lighter or darker, or even a different color such as red, blue or white, you should have it looked at. D is for diameter. If the mole has increased in size so that it is larger than ¼ of an inch you should have it looked at by a doctor. If you are unsure of any of your moles, then have them looked at by a doctor. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious, especially when it comes to skin cancer.

So when you are out in the sun this summer remember your sunscreen, a shirt, a hat, and your ABCD’s.