May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month! Keep an eye out for our weekly posts about skin checks, how to spot different types of skin cancers, and what you can do to protect yourself from skin cancers.

The three most common types of skin cancer are Basal Cell Carcinomas, Squamous Cell Carcinomas, and Melanomas. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are superficial skin cancers that are caused by sun exposure over time. They usually look like small sores that aren’t healing, and they frequently show up on sun exposed areas like the face, ears, and scalp. The good news is that they rarely spread to other parts of the body, and they can be prevented by good sun protection!

Melanomas are the more serious kind of skin cancer because they can spread to other parts of the body, but are very treatable if you catch them early! Look out for moles that are changing quickly over the course of weeks to months or just look different from all of your other spots. Risk factors for melanomas include tanning beds, blistering sunburns, and first-degree family history (mom, dad, brothers, and sisters). If any of these apply to you, it is extra important that you come in for regular skin checks!

That’s all for today! Look out for our posts in the upcoming weeks about sun protection, how skin checks work, and the ABCDE’s for spotting a skin cancer.