Mayor Clive Tolley proclaimed May as "Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month" in Moose Jaw.  

Melanoma is among the top five most common cancers for men and women in Canada, according to Dr. Tamara Webster who works at Radiant Skin in Moose Jaw and is a family physician with additional training in dermatology.  

The most common cause of melanoma is extensive sun exposure without any protection.  

People can see signs of skin damage through their natural tan.  

“I think the best way to think about it is that UV radiation from the sun directly causes damage to the DNA in our skin cells. So, in response our skin cells produce more melanin or pigment and that’s what we see as a tan or you can think of it this way; a tan means there has been some DNA damage to your skin cells. When we burn, the DNA damage is more pronounced and that’s when your skin will show signs of inflammation, redness, swelling, and tenderness. Then, DNA damage over time is what, eventually, can lead to the formation of abnormal or cancerous cells,” says Webster.  

Sunscreen is the most common and obvious defence against UV radiation, but Webster says many of her clients have been surprised at how much and how often sunscreen should be used.  

“For your face and neck, you need a teaspoon of sunscreen to adequately cover that area, and that applies to each area beyond that. So, a teaspoon for each arm, a teaspoon for each leg, and then a teaspoon for your front, and again for back,” she says.  

She also recommends using sunscreen with SPF levels of either 30, or higher. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2-3 hours.  

UV rays usually peak between the hours of 11 am to 3 pm and minimizing sun exposure during this time is also a way to protect your skin.  

Wearing tightly woven or dark clothing is also a good method for protecting yourself.  

However, there are factors that can put individuals more at risk of developing melanoma.  

Certain skin types that are more sensitive to UV radiation can be at a higher risk. For example, a person with a fair skin tone who burns easily is more at risk than a person with a darker skin tone.  

Having a large number of moles on your body can also mean you’re more at risk. Webster says that if a person has over 50 moles on their body, they are considered to be more at risk for melanoma with extensive sun exposure.  

Genetics also plays a factor in how much a person is at risk. If someone has family who has had skin cancer in the past, that automatically makes them five times more susceptible to developing it in the future. 

There is also popular technology that people use that increases their chances of creating long-term damage to their skin. Tanning beds have the same risks as natural UV rays. Webster spoke of a study that has recently been done with people younger than 35 who use tanning beds; the study showed that people who use tanning beds have an increased chance of developing melanoma by 75%.  

Webster says that the best thing to do is to avoid tanning beds and use adequate protection when out in the sun.