Prevention involves minimizing sun exposure:

• Protect the skin by wearing protective clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants
• Ultraviolet light is most intense at midday, so try to avoid sun exposure during these hours.
• Use high-quality sunscreens, preferably with SPF (sun protection factor) ratings of at least 15.
• Look for sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB light.
• Apply sunscreen at least a half-hour before exposure, and reapply it frequently.
• Use sunscreen in winter, too.

Examine the skin regularly for development of suspicious growths or changes in an existing skin lesion. A new growth that ulcerates, bleeds easily or is slow to heal is suspicious.

Suspicious changes in existing growths include the following:

• Changes in these attributes:
  • Color
  • Size
  • Texture
  • Appearance
• Development of these symptoms:
  • Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Bleeding
  • Itching