Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Skin Cancer?

This was a tricky one. While these are all great sun protection strategies, at the Foundation we recommend a complete sun protection regimen that incorporates all of the above strategies. You can learn more by visiting our website: SkinCancer.org/prevention

Sadly, this statistic is true. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.

That’s not correct; the answer is actually Bob Marley. The legendary singer, musician and songwriter died of melanoma in 1981 when he was only 36.

Because infants’ skin is so sensitive, it’s better in the first six months to shield them from the sun rather than use sunscreen. It’s especially important to avoid direct sun exposure and seek the shade during the sun’s hours of greatest intensity, between 10 AM and 4 PM. Keep to the shady side of the street on walks, and use the sun shield on your stroller.

Unfortunately, this alarming statistic is true. In addition to having an increased risk for melanoma, those who use tanning beds are also at greater risk for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

That’s not right. SPF – or Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 30 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours. However, in reality, sunscreen wears away and loses strength after a while in the sun, so you need to reapply at least every couple of hours, and immediately after sweating or swimming.

Both UVA and UVB rays penetrate the atmosphere and play an important role in conditions such as premature skin aging, eye damage and skin cancers.

While most skin cancers occur on parts of the body excessively exposed to the sun — especially the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back – tumors can also develop on unexposed areas; these areas may include, but are not limited to, the soles of your feet, genitals and even your mucous membranes.

Heredity plays a major role in melanoma. About one in every 10 patients diagnosed with the disease has a family member with a history of melanoma.

That’s incorrect. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with more than 3.6 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year.