In this article today I would like to discuss several tips, tricks, and techniques that anybody can use to help prevent and also reduce the risk of melanoma cancer.

In case you're not aware, melanoma is a cancer of the skin which is usually caused by repeated exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight on our bodies.

Thanks to recent medical advances and technological advances, most forms of cancer are on the decline. Unfortunately melanoma is actually rising. Within one recent five-year span, the actual number of melanoma cases actually increased by 2.5%. There are many different speculations as to why this is the case, and some people think it's because the ozone layer is being depleted and so our bodies are being bombarded with more sunlight. But I tend to think it's just because we spend more of our time in tanning salons then we should.

So how can we prevent this dangerous disease?

The first thing you want to do is reduce your risk by minimizing your exposure to the sun. I know this is easier said than done for many people, especially if you work outside for a living. When you do go outside, be sure to wear a broad brimmed hat and sunscreen with a sun protection factor or SPF of at least 15. Also whenever you're outside for extended periods of time, try to find shade if at all possible and as much as possible, especially when the sun is the brightest between the hours of 11 AM and 3 PM in the afternoon.

Many people don't realize it but the more likely you are to freckle, and burn, the greater your risk for melanoma is. You also have a greater risk when you have excessive sun exposure before the age of 10 years old or have a personal or family history of any type of skin cancer whatsoever.

Early detection is incredibly important when it comes to this type of cancer because if you can catch it before it spreads much, if not most, of the damage can be neutralized. Every time you go in for a routine medical exam your doctor should perform a very comprehensive visual exam of your entire skin. It's not uncommon for a doctor to skip this and if yours does be sure to remind them to do it because it's incredibly important.

If you have a high probability of getting this cancer, if you have a family history or spend a lot of your time outside then it may be beneficial for you to have several skin exams throughout the year. I suggest you have one every quarter, which means four times a year. Doctors are okay for this type of examination but you may be better off going to the dermatologist.

So there you have several tips, tricks, and techniques that you can use to help prevent melanoma as well as help to reduce your overall risk to this potentially deadly form of skin cancer.