This coming Monday, May 3, is Melanoma Monday and is the American Cancer Society, Minnesota Council s way of promoting skin cancer awareness. Chances are you think of a suntan as healthy-looking. Most of us still do. It s what we were brought up to think because suntanned people were the ones who spent most of their time outside, playing sports, or, like you, working hard. But today we know that truly healthy skin is not suntanned, and it s not sunburned.
Doctors now know that even the mildest suntan means damaged skin.
It indicates skin that is a step closer to developing cancer because the sun s damage to skin is progressive. It s not just blondes or redheads who are at risk for skin cancer. Anyone can get it, especially those who are in the sun a lot. Skin cancer is serious. Skin cancer kills.