5 simple things you can do
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent skin cancer, and some risk factors, such as age, race and family history can’t be changed.
But there are still plenty of things you can do to lower your risk.
Be Sun Smart – limit UV exposure
95 per cent of melanomas are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. So, it pays to use a combination of the five forms of sun protection during peak sun protection times.
Know when to protect yourself from harmful UV rays
Download the SunSmart App, set your location, and get smart reminders of when you should be protecting yourself from the sun.
Monitor your own skin regularly
Get to know your own skin. Check your whole body, including skin that is not exposed to the sun. Ask a loved one to check difficult areas like your back, head, neck, and ears.
Avoid harmful chemicals
Chemicals like arsenic can increase risk.
Protect children
Severe sunburns in children may increase the risk of melanoma.
- What to look for:
- New spots/moles
- Freckles or moles that have changed in colour, shape or size
- A lesion or spot that may be raised, lumpy, crusty or that bleeds
- A mole that looks different to others
Skin Cancer Risk Factors
Know your skin cancer risk factors
Skin Cancer FAQs
If you’ve got skin cancer questions we’ve got answers