The principal cause of skin cancer is almost universally accepted by medical experts to be overexposure to sunlight, especially when it results in sunburn and blistering. Prevention is a matter of guarding the skin against the known causes. Since the sun and its ultraviolet rays would seem to be the main culprit, the most effective preventive method is sun avoidance. Limit the exposure of the skin to harmful rays by covering up and using sunscreens with at least a 15 SPE rating. Skin protection must begin at a very young age in order to be most successful.
Early detection is the surest way to a cure.
It is a simple routine to inspect your body for any skin changes. Actinic keratosis and each of the skin cancers depicted in the following pages can be readily detected. If any growth, moles, sore or discoloration appears suddenly or begins to change, see your dermatologist. I n addition to the types of skin cancers illustrated here, be alert for a precancerous lesion called actinic keratosis . These small scaly spots are most commonly found on the face and back of the hands in fair-skinned individuals who have had significant sun exposure.