How can I prevent skin cancer?

I am 17 and have very fair skin, many small moles and a ton of freckles. My family also has a history of cancer, and my grandfather has a tumor removed from the skin on his nose, but is fine now. There have been about 3 times where I have had pretty bad sunburns, the last one accompanied with chills. I am really becoming alarmed that I am so easily sunburned and that I have had so many major sunburns, and am now becoming very worried about skin cancer. Is there anything else I can do now besides using sunscreen and limiting my sun exposure to decrease a chance for developing skin cancer, or is it too late? Is there a doctor here that can tell me if I have an extremely high risk of developing cancer? Should I see a doctor about my skin?

How can I prevent skin cancer?
Wear sunscreen and put on a hat.
Reply:with your family history, you should see a dermatologist once a year at least to have a 'full body skin check' for moles and such
Reply:WEAR SUNSCREEN AND REAPPLY EVERY FEW HOURS IF YOU'LL BE OUT SIDE. YOU PROBABLY SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR
Reply:First of all don't only wear sunscreen. Sunscreen only can protect one of uvrays or ub rays and sunburns. Wear sunlotion it protects everything. Also don't go to really sunny open places like beaches. =| Oh, yeah. If you get a sunburn not that too long ago use aloe vera gel to calm it down.
Reply:watch the size of your moles make sure they arent growing, if it grows to a size begger than the width of the tip of your pinky, thats not a good sign.





Also watch for the decoloration of your freckles.





Get a check up once ever 6 months. You can do it just once a year, but theres room for a lot of worrying and stress over it, witch isnt a good thing because that will make you more unhelathy, and being unhealthy is a bad way of preventing any kind of cancer.
Reply:I actually have this problem myself, although I've been burned a LOT I'm a red head with very very fair skin (I've already had cancerous moles removed before--and I learned my lesson!). You can buy SPF 70 sunscreen (which should have the consistency of paste--so it's not that much fun to put on) Also, I know being 17 it's really depressing during the summertime to go out with friends who don't wear sunblock and you feel like you're making everyone slow down for you. What you need to do is put the sunblock on 30 minutes ahead of time, which will allow most of it to settle into your skin so you don't feel like you are covered in glue, and this will make your skin hold the lotion longer because of the fact its soaked in and you will have to apply less. As for getting that summer glow, spray tans are amazing and I swear by them--go check them out at your local tanning salon or even maybe your local hospital. As for cancer, I would go get checked out with a doctor now (Get a same sex one if you're a little apprehensive) and from now on take as many precautions as possible, since you've only had 3 serious burns, I think you will be okay...(seeing as there was a summer I was burned constantly every day and I never got to the point where a cancer actually spread) If you're worried, go get checked out, and calm your concerns ;-) Nothing wrong with being safe!





God Bless you, and good luck
Reply:You are very wise to be concerned. First of all, I have posted some info below about a new procedure called Levular used with IPL light therapy. I's being used for acne, but also acts as a preventative for skin cancers. You will have to call some dermotologists and /or plastic surgeons in your area to see who does it. It's very new, so all derms may not have it. The second thing is a good sunblock. The best is called Anthelios L and you can only get the 40 block in the US. Orfer the 60 block from Canada. It is awesome! Not greasy and if you use it daily, it will do wonders. DO NOT sit and bake in the sun, use a tanning salon or any of it. Use self tanners and makeup bronzers to get the cosmentic look you want. That would go for anyone, because the worst thing for skin is the sun. I am a skier and use the Anthelios L and it is amazing. Here is the url for the company that I order it from: http://www.westcoastskin.com/


I also ordered a self tanner from the same company, but haven't used it yet. LaRoche Posay from France makes the Anthelios products and there is nothing on the market that can beat their sunblock. The other thing that I suggest is find a good dermotologist and have regular check-ups. You are only 17, and in addition to preventing skin cancer, you don't want wrinkles either! If you want to have beautiful skin for the rest of your life, than you need to start now! Nicole Kidman has fabulous skin because she was like you..she was fair and had a bad reaction to the sun. She just didn't go out in it with her friends to the beach, etc. She started taking acting classes instead:} But truthfully, no one should lay at the pool or the beach soaking up rays. I am an outdoors person and love sports, but I use the Anthelios L, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use a self tanner so that I have that beautiful sun-kissed look without causing any damage to my skin. Great question and I congratulate you for your maturity in being concerned. See below for that treatment I mentioned. Maybe your insurance will cover it, but if not, maybe your parents would help you out.
Reply:go to a dermatologist or your doctor at least once a year to check you out. keep wearing sunscreen and stay in the shade.