9 Things a Skin Cancer Doctor Would Never Do

Yet, “a lot of skin cancer is preventable, and even more of it is catchable early once you know what to look for,” says Aderonke Obayomi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York. So we asked skin cancer specialists to share the things they would never do when it comes to skin health and sun protection, and what they want us to know.

1. They Won’t Skip Sunscreen When It’s Cloudy

2. They Won’t Miss Certain Body Parts When Applying Sunscreen

3. They Won’t Rely on Sunscreen Alone

Sunscreen is one of the best tools available to protect our skin from the sun. But skin cancer doctors say it’s a mistake to think it’s the only one you need.

While sunscreen helps reduce UV exposure, it can sometimes create a false sense of security, says Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Fort Wayne, Indiana. People may assume they’re fully protected and skip other sun-safe habits altogether, or stay in the sun even after the sunscreen has lost effectiveness, which can happen within two hours of application, she says.

Instead, think of sunscreen as one part of your sun protection plan, says William Posten, MD, the chief dermatologist at Sensus Healthcare, a medical device company focused on skin cancer treatment, and a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Dallas.

• A wide-brimmed hat
• Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF)-rated clothing, which is specially designed and labeled to block UV rays
• UV-blocking sunglasses
• Staying in the shade during peak UV hours, roughly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

4. They Won’t Use Homemade Sunscreen or ‘Natural Alternatives’

“There is no evidence that homemade sunscreens or natural remedies offer equivalent, and certainly not better sun protection than properly tested, broad-spectrum sunscreen,” Dr. Spearman says.

“The far larger and far better-documented risk is the UV exposure you take on by going without sunscreen,” says Obayomi, and the most important thing is to wear and reapply whichever sunscreen you will use consistently.

5. They Won’t Intentionally Get a Tan

“If a patient asks me whether occasional tanning bed use is acceptable, my answer is always no,” Posten says. If you like the appearance of tanned skin, he recommends using a sunless self-tanner instead.

6. They Won’t Skip Regular Skin Checks

That includes skin checks done both at home and by a dermatologist, says Obayomi. “A yearly skin exam with a dermatologist, paired with a monthly look at your own skin, is one of the simplest ways to catch something early,” she says.

Never check only the places that are exposed to the sun. “When you do a self-exam, look everywhere, including the soles of your feet, between your toes, your nail beds, your scalp, and your palms,” says Obayomi.

Screening is especially important for people with higher risk factors of skin cancer, such as a personal or family history of skin cancer, numerous moles, previous tanning bed use, or a history of severe sunburns, Marmon says. Your dermatologist can tell you how often you should have a professional skin exam.

7. They Won’t Ignore a Changing Mole or Non-Healing Spot

• Asymmetry, meaning one half of the spot doesn’t match the other
• Border, referring to edges that look uneven, ragged, or scalloped
• Color, such as variations in shade, including different tones of brown, black, red, or white within the same spot
• Diameter larger than about six millimeters, roughly the size of a pencil eraser, though melanomas can be smaller
• Evolving, meaning the spot is changing in size, shape, color, or feel over time

Obayomi also says it’s important to pay attention to sores that seem to heal but keep returning in the same location.

Changes in a mole — even if it’s been there for years — or a new mole that appears after age 40, can sometimes be a sign of skin cancer, including melanoma, Spearman says. If a spot is new, changing, bleeding, painful, or not healing, make an appointment with your dermatologist to have it checked as soon as possible.

8. They Won’t Believe Skin Cancer Only Happens to People With Fair Skin

Everyone needs sun protection, and everyone should pay attention to changes in their skin, our experts say. Have any suspicious lesions evaluated by a dermatologist to get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment at the earliest stage possible.

9. They Won’t Assume Skin Cancer Always Looks Dark or Obvious

This is one more reason our experts recommend paying attention to any new or persistent lesion and having a dermatologist take a look as soon as possible.