SUNDAY, May 26, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and experts note that you need to protect your skin while spending time in the sun.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, but it's also one of the most preventable, according to doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer during his or her life, according to a medical center news release. The most common kind of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma, which has a 99 percent cure rate when caught early. The most serious type of skin cancer is melanoma, which is the fastest rising type of cancer among men and the second fastest among women.
Experts offer these steps you can take to reduce your risk of skin cancer:
You should also follow the ABCDEs and tell your doctor or dermatologist if your moles have:
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about skin cancer prevention.