Washington, U.S.A. – Despite skin cancer being largely preventable, it remains by far the most common type of cancer in the United States. There are more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in more than two million people each year, which is more than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.

To help reduce rising rates of skin cancer, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designated the Friday before Memorial Day, May 25, 2012, as “Don’t Fry Day.”

This year, the National Council urges everyone to go beyond sunscreen to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. While generous sunscreen usage is an important way to protect your skin from the sun, there are additional sun-safety measures that can help prevent skin cancer:

• Avoid sun burning, intentional tanning, and using tanning beds;
• Wear sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses;
• Seek the shade when you can. Use umbrellas or other shade structures when outdoors.
• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand;
• Get vitamin D safely through food and vitamin D supplements.

“As millions of Americans head outdoors for family fun on Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial kick-off to summer – “Don’t Fry Day” is an important reminder for the public to protect their skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation while enjoying the outdoors,” said board-certified dermatologist Sandra I. Read, M.D., co-chair of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. “While most everyone enjoys a sunny day, keeping your skin safe from overexposure to UV radiation can be easy by practicing simple sun-safety tips.”

When choosing a sunscreen, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher for protection from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours.

Skin cancer is on the rise in the U.S. Here are some statistics:

• There are more than 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed and 2.2 million people treated in the U.S. each year.
• The American Cancer Society estimates that 76,250 cases of melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) will be diagnosed in 2012 in the U.S., and 9,180 people will die from the disease.
• Melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for at least 30 years. Since 2004, incidence rates among whites have been increasing by almost 3% per year in both men and women.
• Most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
• Sunburns during childhood increase the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers later in life.
• Melanoma is now one of the most common cancers among young adults ages 15-29.

To minimize the harmful effects of too much UV exposure, the National Council advocates that comprehensive protection from UV radiation should be a life-long, year-round practice for everyone.

For more information on how to protect yourself from skin cancer, visit the National Council’s site. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention is the united voice of more than 40 organizations, associations, and agencies dedicated to reducing skin cancer morbidity and mortality in the United States. Council members represent some of the nation’s premier physicians, researchers, clinicians and advocates for melanoma and skin cancer prevention.

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