Prevention of malignant melanoma includes:
- Wear clothing that blocks the sun's rays.
- Use sunscreen if you are out in the sun for more than 30 minutes.
- Use a sunscreen that protects against UVA.
- Stay out of the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM, when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Perform regular skin self-examinations:
- Skin areas that are often exposed to the sun are at highest risk for skin cancer.
- See your doctor for changes in color, size, or overall appearance of skin lesions.
- See your doctor for new or unusual skin lesions.
- Learn the American Cancer Society's ABCD rules for skin lesions:
- A: asymmetry: one-half of the mole does not match the other half.
- B: border irregularity: the edges of the mole are ragged or notched.
- C: color: the color of the mole is not the same all over. There may be shades of tan, brown, or black, and sometimes patches of red, blue, or white.
- D: diameter: the mole is wider than about 1/4 inch
