Health care experts estimate that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. To heighten awareness of skin cancer, its prevention, and its treatment, the American Academy of Dermatology has designated May as Skin Cancer Prevention Month.

Skin cancer is highly treatable if discovered in time, so detection is crucial. When treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is 98%. To help raise awareness and encourage early detection, celebrities like supermodel Heidi Klum and celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, who lost her brother to melanoma, are encouraging the public to seek information through organizations like Stand Up to Cancer.

Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancers, and there are some simple ways minimize it. Protective clothing such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats help, as does seeking shade during the time of day when the sun is strongest: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Water, sand, and even snow reflect sunlight, so exercise caution when you’re around them. Most importantly, using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both types of ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB) with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 on all exposed areas of skin gives good protection for the times you are in the sun.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elaine Cook, founder of Dr. Elaine’s Advanced Skin Treatment^®, a clinical skin care product line, recommends fragrance-free DCL Super Sheen Sunscreen 50 to get maximum sun protection while keeping your skin moist and supple. It’s a completely translucent, non-sticky sunscreen for all types of skin. Zinc oxide gives a high level of protection (SPF 50), while antioxidants guard against damage by free radicals.

DCL Super Sheen Sunscreen 50 is available individually in a 2.5 ounce tube or as part of a Dr. Elaine’s Daily Essentials set with Ageless Effects^® Intensive Correcting Serum. Both DCL sunscreen and the Daily Essentials set are currently on sale at over 20% off on Dr. Elaine’s online store, SkinTreatment.com.

Dr. Elaine recommends annual skin cancer screenings for all adults. They are available at her Amarillo, Texas clinic by appointment and at dermatologists across the country. If you’re outside Dr. Elaine’s area, you can find a clinic near you by entering your location in these search fields.

All of Dr. Elaine’s skin care products can be purchased securely online at SkinTreatment.com and are shipped to you FREE via USPS Priority Mail, usually within three business days. Express shipping is also available on web orders placed before noon, CST, Monday through Friday. Call 1-800-417-SKIN for details. See our web site for a complete statement of our online privacy and security policies.