July is UV Safety Awareness Month, and the CDC reminds us that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, but it’s also one of the most preventable!
A few habits make a big difference: seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., use broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher (and reapply every two hours), cover up where you can, and check the UV index. The CDC notes that when the UV index is 3 or higher, sun protection is recommended.
And if you notice a mole or spot that’s changing, growing, or just doesn’t look right, get it checked. When biopsies are needed, pathology testing helps your provider make a clear, confident diagnosis. That’s the kind of work our Pathology team does every day.