Self-Care

The following list I got from the Skin Cancer Foundation. They are the guidelines recommended to protect ourselves from skin damage.

Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
Do not burn.
Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

Even common moles can be dangerous!

Even common moles increase the likelihood of malignancy, provided they are numerous. The greater the total number of moles on the body, the greater the overall danger of melanoma, regardless of whether these moles are atypical or normal-appearing. People who have more than 60 moles are 15 times more likely to develop melanoma than are those with no moles, and individuals who have more than 100 moles are at 50 times the risk.

The first sign of skin cancer

Atypical moles are an important risk factor for melanoma. Sometimes, melanomas will begin within the mole itself. Dysplastic nevi usually have the following characteristics:
Shape: asymmetrical; a line drawn through the middle would not create matching halves
Border: irregular and/or hazy – the mole gradually fades into the surrounding skin
Color: variation and irregularity with subtle, haphazard areas of tan, brown, dark brown, blue, or black
Diameter: generally larger than 6 mm, but may be smaller
Location: most commonly on the back, chest, abdomen, and extremities; may also occur on normally unexposed areas such as buttocks, groins, or female breasts, as well as scalp
Growth: enlargement of a previously stable mole or appearance of a new mole after ages 35 - 40 should raise suspicion
Surface: central portion may be flat or raised, sometimes with tiny "pebbly" variations
Appearance: greatly varied; dysplastic nevi often look different from one another
Number: from a few to well over 100 dysplastic nevi may be present If any of these warning signs appear on your own skin or that of a friend or family member, consult a dermatologist right away. It could be the first sign of skin cancer.

Normal mole vs. Dysplastic nevi

Normal Moles Vs. Dysplastic Nevi
The average young adult has about 25 normal moles or growths. Generally, normal moles have the following characteristics:
Shape: symmetrical, round, or oval
Border: regular, sharp, and well-defined
Color: usually tan, brown, or skin color
Diameter: usually 6 mm (1/4 inch) or smaller — about the size of a pencil eraser
Location: often concentrated on sun-exposed areas, such as the face, trunk, arms and legs.
Onset: most often during early childhood through ages 35 - 40
Uniformity: resemble one another

Dysplastic Nevi Syndrome

Dysplastic nevi are atypical moles, which, although benign, resemble melanoma and indicate an increased risk. Those who have dysplastic nevi and a family history of melanoma have a 200-fold increase in risk of developing melanoma. Those who have dysplastic nevi but no family history of melanoma also have up to fifteen times greater risk of developing melanoma than the general population.
Research has shown that the risk of melanoma in members of families affected by atypical mole (dysplastic nevus) syndrome is 49 percent in persons 1-50 years old and 82 percent by age 72. People with “classic atypical mole syndrome” have the following three characteristics:
100 or more moles
One or more moles greater than 8mm (1/3 inch) in diameter
One or more moles that look atypical
If your doctor suspects the presence of dysplastic nevi, one or more moles may be removed by “excision biopsy,” a minor surgical procedure, for microscopic examination. It is not necessary to remove all dysplastic nevi. If moles show change or signs of melanoma, or if new moles appear after age 40, they may be considered for removal by your physician.

What's YOUR skin type?

Your skin type is one of the main factors in your risk for skin cancer. People with higher risk should take extra precautions when they are out in the sun.
Skin is classified according to two factors: the amount of melanin, and the reaction to ultraviolet light exposure.
There are six skin phototypes, going from light to dark. Individuals with skin types I and II face the highest risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers, while types V and VI are at the lowest risk. That is because those with more pigmentation have more natural protection from the sun. However, people with darker skin are nonetheless affected by skin cancer and should be cautious of the sun as well as having regular examinations by their doctor.
To get an idea of your degree of risk, rate yourself according to the following classification.
Type I: Is very fair, burns easily and severely and does not tan. Eyes are blue or green and hair is blond or red.
Type II: Is also fair and burns easily, but does get a minimal tan. Eyes are blue, hazel or brown, and hair is blond, red or brown.
Type III: Is somewhat darker and sometimes burns then tans.
Type IV: Is darker still, never burns, and always tans rapidly.
Types V: Is brown.
Type VI: Is black.
When determining your skin types, give careful thought to your medical history of tanning and burning. Sometimes, a person may look like a skin type III, but has a history of frequent burning that will place him or her a type II. If you are not sure, put yourself in a higher risk category rather than a lower one.

-The Skin Cancer Foundation

Self examination is the best prevention!

Coupled with a yearly skin exam by a doctor, self-examination of your skin once a month is the best way to detect the early warning signs of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, the three main types of skin cancer. Look for a new growth or any skin change.
What you'll need: a bright light; a full-length mirror; a hand mirror; two chairs or stools; a blow-dryer.

Examine head and face, using one or both mirrors. Use blow-dryer to inspect scalp.
Check hands, including nails. In full-length mirror, examine elbows, arms, underarms.
Focus on neck, chest, torso.
Women: Check under breasts.
With back to the mirror, use hand mirror to inspect back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs.
Sitting down, check legs and feet, including soles, heels, and nails. Use hand mirror to examine genitals.
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is especially hard to stop once it has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. But it can be readily treated in its earliest stages.
source- The Skin Cancer Foundation