Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
The sun is shining, and after a long, cold Illinois winter, it sure feels good. But we know over exposure to the sun is not good for us. According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. SIU dermatologist Dr. Stephen Stone encourages people to do self-examinations for changes in their skin and have skin screenings to detect skin cancer in its early stages. See the infographic on the right to help you with self-examinations. If in doubt, always seek the advice of your physician.
The best advice to avoid skin cancer:  limit exposure to the sun, especially during the peak hours of 10 am- 4 pm. Wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and be sure to cover the often forgotten lips and ears. Hats help protect the scalp, and sunglasses keep sensitive eyes from damaging exposure.
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