Skin cancer is quite curable when treated early. More than 90 percent of skin cancers are completely cured. Even better, it's largely preventable, simply by avoiding sun and sunlamp exposure. As more consumers become sun smart, they're finding new ways to protect themselves. For example, FDA has cleared for marketing one manufacturer's clothing for sun protection.
Experts agree that sunlight, particularly the UV wavelengths, damages the skin.
Americans are getting the message. Increasingly, we're protecting ourselves from the sun, according to a 1994 survey commissioned by the American Academy of Dermatology. But we're not all sun savvy yet. Only 2 in 5 people consistently use sunscreen whenever they're in the sun. Fewer people say they sunbathe, but about 1 in 5 adults still does.