- Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection - What is skin
cancer? - What is ultraviolet (UV) radiation? - Are some people
more likely to get sun damage? - How do I protect myself from UV
rays? - What about tanning pills and other tanning products? -
Skin exams - What should I look for? - What if I find something
suspicious? - Additional resources Skin Cancer Prevention and
Early Detection Skin cancer is the most common of all cancer
types. More than 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed each
year in the United States. That's more than all other cancers
combined. The number of skin cancer cases has been going up over
the past few decades. The good news is that you can do a lot to
protect yourself and your family from skin cancer, or to catch
it early enough so that it can be treated effectively. Most skin
cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV)
rays. Most of this exposure comes from the sun, but some may
come from man-made sources, such as indoor tanning beds. Last
Medical Review: 09/20/