Know the risks and signs of skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 65,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin in 2014. Many of us are aware of the importance of using sunscreen to protect our skin, but there is additional information to help you make choices about your time in the sun.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) says to take extra precautions while in the sun if you have had skin cancer before, have fair skin tone or have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma. Other factors that can affect your risk of damage from the sun:

n Having many moles, irregular moles or large moles

n Having freckles and burn before tanning

n Living in or vacationing at high altitudes (the strength of UV rays increases with height)

n Living in or vacationing in tropical or subtropical climates

n Working indoors all week and then receiving intense sun exposure on the weekends

n Spending a lot of time outdoors

n Having certain autoimmune diseases such as lupus

n Having certain inherited conditions that increase your risk of skin cancer such as xeroderma pigmentosum or nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

n Having a medical condition that weakens your immune system such as infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS)

n Having had an organ transplant

n Taking medicines that lower or suppress your immune system

n Taking medicines that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight

If you are unsure if your medicines have risk associated with sun exposure, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society

Healthy Habits Huntington is a partnership among Cabell Huntington Hospital, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and St. Mary's Medical Center. We are a community working together to improve our health. Our goal is to inform and encourage area residents on ways to improve their health. Join our conversation and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthyHabitsHuntington.