Shades of tan, brown, and black may be present, while dashes of red, white, and blue add to a mottled appearance. Watch for any mole or other growth larger than six millimeters, which is about the size of a pencil eraser. Monthly self exams of your skin and routine use of sun-protection products are good ways to lower your risk of skin cancer. Early detection is your best asset, so don't hesitate to contact a health care provider if you notice any change in a birthmark, mole, or other spot on your skin. Having a tan is not as glamorous as it may appear.
Skin cancer is serious.
It accounts for about one-third of all reported malignancies in the United States. To protect yourself from skin cancer you should routinely use a sunscreen product that has a sun protection factor, or S.P.F. of at least fifteen. People of all ages and skin types are susceptible to skin cancer, no matter how dark their skin appears. And according to the skin cancer foundation, using a tanning booth may be more risky than tanning in the sun. Little is known about its long-term effects, but it is known that the exposure you get from tanning booths can cause acute sunburn, eye damage, skin cancer, and premature aging.