How to prevent skin cancer

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION
For the nonmelanoma skin cancers, the most logical approach to prevention is to limit exposure of the skin to natural and artificial sources of UV radiation. This can be achieved in numerous ways, including the use of sunscreens, the avoidance of outdoor activities during the noon hours when the amount of UV radiation in sunlight is maximal, and the use of protective clothing. Reducing the lifetime dose of UV radiation reduces the risk of skin cancer development. Because the effects of UV radiation in causing nonmelanoma skin cancers are cumulative, we would expect that reducing sunlight exposure at any age would retard the rate of tumor development.
For melanoma and perhaps even for some basal cell carcinomas, it is not clear whether this strategy would be effective because there is not a simple, direct relationship between dose of UV radiation and melanoma induction. For example, if melanoma results from childhood exposure to UV radiation, as has been suggested, reducing sunlight exposure during adult life may not be beneficial in attempting to decrease the incidence of melanoma. Obviously, more information on the dose response, wavelength dependence, and mechanism of action of UV radiation in the induction of melanomas is needed to devise effective strategies for preventing even the melanomas that are sunlight-related.