By William P. Mack

While we are firm believers that you should be proactive about protecting your skin every day of the year, we all need a reminder of just how important it is from time to time. Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, this seems like the perfect time!

Every year, 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed. In case that number seems too large to really put into perspective, think about the fact that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during the course of a lifetime.

Fortunately there are a few simple changes you can make that will reduce the likelihood that this disease will develop and prevent you from becoming just another statistic. With “summer” weather in full swing here in Tampa, you’re going to be spending more and more time at the beach soaking up rays.

Here are a few things to remember before heading out!

1. Wearing SPF 15 or higher significantly decreases your risk of developing skin cancer.
2. You shouldn’t rely on your makeup for sunscreen. You would need to apply 14 times the amount of powder that people normally use to achieve the same level of protection that sunscreen provides.
3. Apply sunscreen daily (even on those occasional cloudy days).
4. Reapply sunscreen every two hours when you’re out in the sun or exposed in any way. We love carrying the Colorescience Sunforgettable Sunscreen with us when you’re out because the application brush makes it easy to reapply on the go and avoid the messiness that’s associated with most sunscreens.
5. Take breaks from the sun in days when you know you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors. The best time to take a break is in the middle of the day, during peak hours, when the sun is at its strongest.

While we know that the summer tan may look beautiful, try to keep in mind that that “beautiful’ tan is just damaged skin and that you should make keeping your skin healthy a top priority.

Do you know your A, B, C’s? Check out the image below to educate yourself on what you should be on the lookout for as you’re screening your skin.