Sunscreen and Skin Cancer: Protection and Skin Checks

Ultraviolet exposure can damage skin over time and contribute to the development of skin cancers. Sunscreen is one layer of protection, alongside shade, hats, sunglasses, and clothing that covers exposed areas. Apply a broad-spectrum product to exposed skin according to its label and reapply when needed, especially after swimming or sweating. Protection lowers exposure but cannot explain whether an existing mole or patch is harmless. A new, changing, bleeding, crusting, or persistently itchy mark deserves a clinical look.

Make sun protection part of outdoor routines, including on days that feel mild. Cover commonly missed sites such as the ears, scalp parting, neck, backs of hands, and tops of feet. Examine your skin in good light and compare marks over time, paying attention to change in size, shape, colour, border, or symptoms. Do not rely on a phone photograph or sunscreen use to diagnose a lesion. During a Skin Cancer Screening visit, a clinician may examine the whole skin surface and use a Dermatoscope to view structures that are not clear to the naked eye.

Book a skin assessment for a mark that is changing, unlike your other marks, repeatedly bleeding, not healing, or developing a persistent crust. Seek prompt care for a rapidly changing lesion, a sore that does not heal, or a dark streak under a nail with nearby pigment changes. Urgent care is appropriate for uncontrolled bleeding or signs of infection. Do not wait for a routine check if a lesion is changing quickly.

Ask whether a mark needs monitoring, dermatoscopic examination, removal, or another test. Ask how often you should check your skin, which areas are easy to miss, and which sunscreen and protective clothing suit your skin and daily routine.