4 ways to protect your skin after skin cancer
Here are four ways to protect your skin and reduce your risk of getting more skin cancer.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
If you've had melanoma once, your odds of getting it again are nine times higher than for people who have not had this type of skin cancer, which is uncommon but grows and spreads quickly in the body. Even if you haven't had melanoma, but instead have had another kind of skin cancer, you have an increased risk of developing skin cancer again.
That's why it's so important to protect yourself. With some preparation and vigilance, you can take steps to help prevent this potentially deadly disease from coming back.
Written byKristen Sturt.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Skin Cancer Stats.” 2021. Accessed May 21 + 8
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Skin Cancer Stats.” 2021. Accessed May 21, 2021.
- Cancer Research UK. “Skin care after skin cancer.” October 22, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021.
- American Cancer Society. “Living as a Basal or Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Survivor.” July 26, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021.
- AH Fischer, TS Wang, et al. “Sunburn and sun-protective behaviors among adults with and without previous nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC): A population-based study.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. August 1, 2016. Volume 75, Issue 2, pp 371-379.e5.
- American Cancer Society. “How Do I Protect Myself from Ultraviolet (UV) Rays?.” July 23, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021.
- Skin Cancer Foundation. “Skin Cancer Prevention” 2021. Accessed May 21, 2021.
- Cancer.net. “Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma): Follow-Up Care.” July 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021.
- E Benati, C Longo, et al. “Baldness and scalp melanoma.” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. December 2017. 31(12):e528-e530.
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Indoor tanning use.” 2021. Accessed September 15, 2021.
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