Every May, we celebrate Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month to spread the word about how to prevent and detect skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, affecting millions of people every year. While some types are less serious, melanoma can be life-threatening if not found early.

The good news? Simple steps like using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and checking your skin regularly can make a big difference.

This article explains everything you need to know about skin cancer, using easy-to-understand language and information from trusted and reliable sources.

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer happens when cells in your skin grow out of control. Your skin has different layers, and cancer can start in any of them. There are three main types of skin cancer:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): This is the most common type. It starts in the basal cells, which are at the bottom of your skin’s outer layer (epidermis). BCC often looks like a small, shiny bump, a red patch, or a sore that doesn’t heal. It grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): This is the second most common type. It starts in the squamous cells, which are just above the basal cells. SCC might look like a scaly red patch, a wart, or an open sore. It can spread if not treated, but it’s usually caught early.
• Melanoma: This is the most dangerous type because it can spread to other parts of the body, like your lungs or liver. It starts in melanocytes, the cells that make melanin (the pigment that gives your skin color). Melanomas can look like dark spots, moles, or patches that change over time.

According to the National Cancer Institute, over 6 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. In 2025, about 104,960 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, and around 8,430 will die from it Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection is key because melanoma is highly treatable when found early.

Why Does Skin Cancer Happen?

Skin cancer develops when something damages the DNA in your skin cells, causing them to grow abnormally. The main culprit is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. UV rays can harm your skin’s DNA, leading to cancer over time. Here are the main reasons why people get skin cancer:

• Sun Exposure: Spending a lot of time in the sun, especially without protection, increases your risk. Getting sunburns, particularly as a kid, can make skin cancer more likely later in life.
• Tanning Beds: These give off UV rays just like the sun. Using tanning beds before age 35 raises your melanoma risk by 75% The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.
• Fair Skin: People with light skin, blonde or red hair, blue or green eyes, or skin that burns easily have less natural protection against UV rays.
• Lots of Moles or Unusual Moles: Having many moles or moles that look irregular (called dysplastic nevi) increases your risk. People with these moles are 15 times more likely to get melanoma The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.
• Family History: If a close family member (like a parent or sibling) had melanoma, your risk is higher. Certain gene changes, like in the MC1R or CDKN2A genes, can also play a role.
• Weak Immune System: People with conditions like HIV/AIDS or those taking medicines after an organ transplant are more likely to develop skin cancer.
• Age and Gender: Melanoma can happen at any age, but it’s more common as you get older. It’s also one of the top cancers in young women aged 20-29. Men tend to have higher rates overall.

The World Health Organization says UV radiation is a major cause of skin cancer, just like smoking causes lung cancer. Protecting your skin from UV rays is the best way to lower your risk.

How to Prevent Skin Cancer

Preventing skin cancer is easier than you might think. By making a few changes to your daily habits, you can protect your skin and stay safe. Here are the top ways to prevent skin cancer:

• Use Sunscreen Every Day: Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. This protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply it generously to all exposed skin, even on cloudy days, and reapply every two hours if you’re outside. The American Academy of Pediatrics says sunscreen is especially important for kids to prevent UV damage early in life.
• Wear Protective Clothing: Long-sleeve shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses with UV protection can shield your skin from the sun. Look for clothing with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating for extra safety.
• Stay in the Shade: Avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest. If you’re outside, sit under an umbrella or tree.
• Say No to Tanning Beds: Tanning beds are just as harmful as the sun. Studies show they increase melanoma risk, especially in young people The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma. Many states, like North Carolina and Michigan, have laws to stop kids under 18 from using them.
• Check Your Skin Regularly: Look at your skin once a month to spot any new or changing moles. Use a mirror or ask someone to help check hard-to-see spots like your back. The ABCDE rule (below) can help you know what to look for.
• Visit a Dermatologist: If you’re at higher risk (like having lots of moles or a family history), see a skin doctor once a year for a full-body check.

Some research also suggests that natural compounds like green tea, resveratrol (found in grapes), or curcumin (in turmeric) might help protect skin from UV damage. However, these are still being studied and aren’t a replacement for sunscreen or other protections The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.

Kids need extra protection because their skin is more sensitive, and early sun damage can lead to cancer later. Programs like Germany’s SunPass have helped kids wear hats more often (from 13% to 72% in some daycares), but many schools in the U.S. still don’t have strong sun safety rules The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.

Spotting Skin Cancer Early

Finding skin cancer early makes it much easier to treat. Early detection saves lives, especially for melanoma, which can spread if not caught in time. Here’s how you can spot skin cancer early:

The ABCDE Rule

The ABCDE rule helps you check moles or spots for signs of melanoma. If you notice any of these, see a doctor right away:

• Asymmetry: One half of the mole doesn’t match the other half.
• Border: The edges of the mole are uneven, jagged, or blurry.
• Color: The mole has multiple colors (brown, black, red, white, or blue) or changes color.
• Diameter: The mole is bigger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), though melanomas can be smaller.
• Evolving: The mole changes in size, shape, or color over time.

Ways to Check Your Skin

There are several methods to catch skin cancer early:

Method	How It Works	Why It Helps
Skin Self-Examination (SSE)	Check your skin monthly using a mirror and the ABCDE rule. Look at your whole body, including your scalp, back, and feet.	People who do SSE regularly are less likely to get advanced melanoma. Studies show it lowers risk by about 34% The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.
Total Body Photography (TBP)	A doctor takes pictures of your skin to track moles over time.	Helps spot changes in moles, catching 74% of melanomas early The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.
Dermoscopy	A doctor uses a special magnifying tool to look closely at moles.	Improves accuracy by 10-27%, making it easier to spot melanoma without unnecessary biopsies The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.
Biopsy	If a mole looks suspicious, a doctor removes it and tests it in a lab.	Confirms if it’s cancer, ensuring accurate diagnosis.

Doctors find thinner melanomas (0.40 mm) compared to those found by patients (1.17 mm) or family members (1.00 mm), which means professional exams can catch cancer earlier The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says there’s not enough evidence to recommend skin checks for everyone, as more research is needed to prove it saves lives across the board.

How is Melanoma Treated?

If skin cancer is found, treatment depends on how serious it is. Melanoma treatment works best when the cancer is caught early. Here’s what doctors might do:

• Stage 0 (Melanoma in Situ): The cancer is only in the outer skin layer. Surgery removes the spot and a small bit of healthy skin around it.
• Stage I and II: The cancer is deeper but hasn’t spread. Surgery removes the melanoma and more surrounding skin. Doctors might also check nearby lymph nodes to see if the cancer has moved.
• Stage III (Removable): The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but can still be removed with surgery. After surgery, treatments like immunotherapy (drugs that boost your immune system) or targeted therapy (drugs that attack specific cancer cells) may be used.
• Stage III (Non-Removable), Stage IV, or Recurrent: If the cancer has spread too far to remove completely, treatments include immunotherapy (like pembrolizumab), targeted therapy (like vemurafenib for BRAF mutations), chemotherapy, radiation, or joining a clinical trial.

New treatments, like tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, use your own immune cells to fight advanced melanoma. This has helped people like Jennifer Ficko, who beat stage IV melanoma after joining a clinical trial Melanoma Treatment (PDQ®).

Skin Cancer by the Numbers

Skin cancer is incredibly common, but the numbers tell a clear story:

• Over 6 million cases of basal and squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
• Melanoma cases in 2025: About 104,960 new diagnoses and 8,430 deaths.
• Who’s at risk?
  • White people: 1 in 39 lifetime risk.
  • Hispanic people: 1 in 167.
  • Black people: 1 in 200.
• Young adults: Melanoma is the second most common cancer in women aged 20-29.
• Rising rates: Melanoma cases have been increasing for decades, partly due to more sun exposure and tanning bed use.

These stats come from trusted sources like the American Association for Cancer Research and The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma.

Why Awareness Month Matters

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May saves lives by teaching people how to protect their skin and spot cancer early. Only 22% of U.S. adults have ever had a full skin exam, so there’s a big need to spread the word The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Detection of Melanoma. Here’s what happens during May:

• Education Programs: Schools, workplaces, and communities teach kids and adults about sun safety and how to check their skin.
• Free Skin Cancer Screenings: Clinics and hospitals offer free skin checks to catch problems early.
• Media Campaigns: TV, radio, and social media share tips like “Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide” (slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade, slide on sunglasses).
• Fundraising Events: Groups like the American Cancer Society raise money for research, patient support, and education.

These efforts make a difference. For example, campaigns like the American Academy of Dermatology’s SPOT Skin Cancer™ program have provided thousands of free screenings, catching cancers early Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Cool Campaigns to Know About

Some awesome campaigns happen every May to fight skin cancer:

• SPOT Skin Cancer™ by the American Academy of Dermatology: Offers free screenings across the U.S. to help people get checked without cost.
• Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Seek Shade” Campaign: Teaches people to stay out of the sun during peak hours and use shade wisely.
• American Cancer Society Events: Share stories like Jennifer’s, who survived stage IV melanoma thanks to new treatments, inspiring others to stay vigilant.

These campaigns make it easy for everyone to get involved, whether by attending a screening, sharing tips with friends, or learning how to stay safe in the sun.

What’s New in Skin Cancer Research?

Scientists are working hard to find better ways to prevent, detect, and treat skin cancer. Here are some exciting updates:

• Immunotherapy: Drugs like pembrolizumab and nivolumab help your immune system attack cancer cells. They’re especially helpful for advanced melanoma.
• Targeted Therapy: Medicines like vemurafenib target specific gene changes (like BRAF mutations) in melanoma cells, stopping them from growing.
• TIL Therapy: This uses your own immune cells, boosted in a lab, to fight cancer. It’s showing great results for tough cases Melanoma Treatment (PDQ®).
• Genetic Research: Scientists are learning how genes like MC1R and CDKN2A increase melanoma risk, which could lead to better prevention strategies.
• New Tools: Things like artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced dermoscopy are helping doctors spot melanoma more accurately.

These advancements give hope to people with skin cancer, especially those with advanced stages Melanoma Treatment (PDQ®).

Tips for Getting Involved

Want to make a difference during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month? Here’s how:

• Get a Skin Check: Book a visit with a dermatologist or attend a free screening event.
• Learn the ABCDE Rule: Practice checking your skin monthly and teach your family to do the same.
• Spread the Word: Share sun safety tips on social media or with friends and family.
• Support Research: Donate to groups like the American Cancer Society or join a fundraising walk.
• Protect Your Skin: Make sunscreen, hats, and shade part of your daily routine.

Conclusion

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month is all about taking action to protect your skin and catch cancer early. By using sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds, checking your skin, and learning about skin cancer, you can lower your risk and help others do the same. May’s campaigns, free screenings, and new research are making a big difference in the fight against skin cancer. Let’s keep spreading the word and staying safe in the sun!