It’s the most common cancer in the US but despite its prevalence, experts say there are many myths when it comes to skin cancer.
One big myth is that the sun is the only cause of this disease.
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While the majority of harmful ultraviolet rays come from the sun, a person can also be exposed in other ways like from tanning beds and sun lamps.
Another misconception — getting a “base tan” doesn’t prevent future sunburns.
Some may believe that skin cancer is easy to spot — but that’s not necessarily true either.
“Skin cancer can show up on the skin in a variety of different ways, different colors, different shapes, different sizes and that can be, um, also relative to the type of skin or the coloring of your skin,” said Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, senior vice president of Cancer Care Support, with the American Cancer Society.
Experts say that while sunscreen does protect skin it is not complete protection.
They recommend not going out at noon when the sun is most dangerous and wearing sun-protective clothing and a hat.
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