R Medicine’s Department of Dermatology, and the American Academy of Dermatology is providing free skin cancer screenings on Friday May 10th (from 1:00 - 4:00PM), at College Town in the Dermatology Suite on the first floor at 40 Celebration Dr. Screening is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and no appointment is needed.

Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined, according to the American Center Society.

Sun damage is cumulative and includes exposures that are part of daily life, such as walking the dog, mowing the lawn or a trip to the store. An annual skin cancer screening can help detect any current problems and also uncover risk factors for the future.

In addition to screening, UR Medicine Dermatology recommends taking these steps to protect your skin from sun exposure:

• Wear sunscreen—your skin can be damaged by the sun in as little as 15 minutes. Apply sunscreen, with SPF 30 or greater and both UVA and UVB protection, 15 to 20 minutes before you go outside. Don’t forget areas such as the back of your neck, top of your ears arms and legs, and scalp if you’ve lost some hair. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, and after swimming or actively sweating.
• Wear a hat and loose-fitting clothing—a hat with a four-inch brim will shade more than 95 percent of your face, head, ears and neck. Wear light-weight clothes that cover your arms and legs.
• Avoid the most intense sunlight—schedule activities in the early morning or late afternoon to keep out of the most intense sunlight, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Don’t tan indoors—indoor tanning has also been linked to skin cancers. Tanning beds or booths are not safe and do not protect your skin from sun damage.

A skin cancer screening takes about five minutes and participants each get a written report of any findings, as well as information on skin cancer and skin cancer prevention.

For more information about the free screening clinic, contact the Dermatology Department at (585) 275-0193.