More than 6 million adults are treated for skin cancer each year: Prevention tips

Gov. Kathy Hochul's recent announcement that she is having a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, removed this week may have New Yorkers wondering how you can prevent getting it yourself.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer nationwide each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, as about 6.1 million adults are treated for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, according to Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.

Here's how you can prevent getting skin cancer, even in the less sunny months.

What are the different types of skin cancer?

There are three different types of skin cancer — basal cell, squamous and melanoma — according to the New York State Department of Health.

Basal cell skin cancer grows slowly and isn't very likely to spread to other parts of your body, while squamous cell skin cancer is more aggressive than basal cell but less dangerous than melanoma.

Melanomas are the most dangerous of the skin cancers because they're more likely to spread to other parts of the body. The state Department of Health says melanoma is the ninth most common type of cancer among both men and women in the state, with more than 4,000 residents diagnosed with the disease and nearly 500 New Yorkers dying from it each year.

How you can prevent getting skin cancer

The CDC and state Department of Health say you should be protecting yourself from UV rays all year long, not just in the sunny summer months, as clouds and cooler days don't prevent UV ray exposure.

If the UV index, which forecasts each day's UV ray strength, is three or higher in your area, you need to protect yourself. Here are some tips to help prevent skin cancer from the CDC and state Department of Health:

• Stay in the shade.

• Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.

• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears and neck.

• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.

• Use broad spectrum sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

• Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and again after swimming or sweating.

• One ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount to completely cover exposed areas of the body.

• Avoid direct sun at midday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are the strongest.

• Avoid indoor tanning as it exposes you to intense levels of UV rays.

Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York State Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How do you prevent skin cancer? Tips, when to apply sunscreen