Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer types. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there are more than 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States. That is more than all other cancers combined. Even with our heightened awareness of using sunscreen vigilantly, the amount of skin cancers diagnosed each year continues to rise.  It is estimated that 44,250 new cases of invasive melanoma in men and 32,000 in women will be diagnosed this year. Sadly, an estimated 6,060 men and 3,120 women will die from melanoma in the U.S. in 2012. If one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, why aren't we taking better care of our skin? For many, tan skin is still considered more attractive and healthy.  Others realize after spending many years in the sun, that while tan skin may be attractive, it is not worth the risks. They now opt for sun protection. The problem, however, is that the damage has often already been done and the cancer is just waiting for the perfect opportunity to show itself. Much of this could be avoided if only pale skin was in.

For hundreds of years, up until the mid-20th century, pale skin was preferred. Today however, we love to soak in the sun. Our desire to be tan has caused an 800% increase in melanoma rates in young women and 400% in young men. This is based upon a study performed by the Mayo Clinic, which compared melanoma rates between 1970 and 2009. Tanning beds are believed to be one of the culprits for the rise in melanoma. People who use tanning beds are 74% more likely to develop melanoma. Even more alarming, if you have just one bad sunburn before the age of 18, your chances of developing melanoma is double.

So what can you do? The first thing is wear sunscreen anytime you are outside. If you are female, you should use a sunscreen-based moisturizer or tinted moisturizer, such as Intellishade®, which has an SPF of 45. You should wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days as up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can penetrate the clouds. If you are playing in the snow or sand, be aware that your chances for getting a sunburn are greater than in other conditions. The snow reflects 80% of the sun's rays and the sand reflects 25%. Choose a sunscreen that is water-resistant and has an SPF of 30 or higher. When applied, you should coat all skin that will not be covered by clothing. On average, one ounce should be used to cover the exposed areas of the body. Sunscreen should also be applied 15 minutes before you head outdoors and should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming or sweating heavily. You should also wear a hat. Wide-brimmed hats are in and provide an excellent amount of sun protection! If you have small children, rash shirts provide great coverage for their young bodies and delicate skin.

It is essential to perform monthly full body checks to look for any changes in the skin's appearance. The ABCD rule will help guide you to the usual signs of melanoma.

• A is for Asymmetry – If one half of the mole or lesion does not match the other
• B is for Border – If the edges are irregular, ragged or notched
• C is for Color – If the color is not the same all over
• D is for Diameter – If the spot is larger than 6 mm across (about the size of a pencil eraser), although some melanomas can be smaller than this.

If you have any new moles or skin lesions, or if you notice a change in them, consult your physician. Your doctor may want to watch them more closely or remove them. If you do find that a mole or lesion must be removed, consult a plastic surgeon to maximize the opportunity to achieve a virtually unnoticeable scar.