Just in time for swimsuit weather, Melanoma Monday and National Skin Examination Day (May 2) reminds Americans to enjoy the sunshine – with limitations.

Sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology, the yearly event focuses on raising public awareness about melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer. Melanoma is almost 100 percent curable if it is found early through regular screenings, yet more than 77 percent of all skin cancer deaths in the United States are from melanoma.

“People enjoy having a ‘healthy’ tan, but too often they don’t follow the simple guidelines to protect themselves from the unhealthy effects of the sun,” said Daniel Davis, M.D., a dermatologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).  He explained that melanoma originates in the pigment-producing cells of the skin, the ones effected by tanning, and can quickly spread to other areas of the body where it continues to grow and destroy tissue.

Melanoma often appears as a pre-existing mole that changes or as a new mole on previously unaffected or clear skin. Davis said knowing the “ABCs of Melanoma” and doing complete self-examinations of every inch of the body can help spot the disease early, which is very important for treating it:

A is for asymmetry, or spots that are not the same on both sides.

B is for a border of a mole that is irregular.

C is for color. If it’s different than other spots, it could be trouble.

D is for diameter. Pay special attention to any spot larger than a pencil eraser.

E is for elevation. Watch for the mole becoming a bump.

F stands for funny-looking. If a spot just doesn’t look right, it could be a sign of melanoma.

Risk factors include heredity, age and multiple moles or brown spots. The cancer can begin in or near the spot, so it’s important to check regularly for any change in appearance of moles. The most important cause, however, is sun exposure. People with as few as three blistering sunburns in a lifetime are at risk for developing melanoma.

The non-melanoma skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and its cousin, actinic keratosis – can all be just as serious as melanoma if not detected and treated early. Of the three, basal cell carcinoma, which usually shows up as a sore that just won’t heal, is the most common, but squamous cell carcinoma is the most invasive. Unlike the other skin cancers, it is associated with long-term sun exposure over a period of years, as opposed to high intensity episodes. Davis said squamous cell carcinoma also appears sometimes in people who are immuno-suppressed from medications, HIV, organ transplant or other medical reasons.

Here are some precautions to take to prevent or to decrease the risk of developing skin cancer.

1.) Avoid deliberate, excessive exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is its strongest.

2.) Wear a wide-brimmed hat when out in the sun.

3.) Wear UV-blocking sunglasses and protective clothing when in the sun.

4.) Wear a sunscreen daily. It should have a sun-protective factor (SPF) of at least 15; when outdoors for prolonged periods of time, it should have an SPF of at least 30. The sunscreen also should be a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB radiation. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours while outside and immediately after toweling off after swimming. For each application, use one ounce of sunscreen and cover the entire body.

You can make an appointment at the UAMS General Dermatology Clinic by calling (501) 686-5960 or (800) 942-8267, the Pigmented Lesion and Melanoma Clinic at the UAMS Arkansas Cancer Research Center by calling (501) 686-5655 or (800) 942-8267, and the UAMS Mohs Surgery Clinic by calling (501) 686-8275 or (800) 942-8267.