What We Do

Nearly 9 million people come to SkinCancer.org annually for the latest skin cancer information. Every day, our education materials are shipped to medical offices, health clinics, schools and community centers across the country. Medical professionals go to Provider.SkinCancer.org for the latest trends and treatment information. Doctors rely on our brochures and posters to help explain the basics of skin cancer to their patients. We take our responsibility as the leader in skin cancer patient education very seriously. We know that receiving a skin cancer diagnosis and navigating treatment options can be daunting. That’s why our Science & Education team works closely with medical experts to break down confusing medical terminology so we can provide you with helpful and digestible information.

On our Sun & Skin News blog, we delve deeper into your lifestyle questions about proper sun protection and skin cancer detection and treatment. Visit our blog for all that plus patient stories, celebrity interviews and advice from our experts. For monthly news and information about skin cancer early detection and prevention, sign up for our newsletter.

We have learned that beyond the education we offer, people come to us because they want assurance that they are not alone in their skin cancer journey. That is why we have built a Facebook community of thousands of skin cancer warriors and healthy skin champions. We facilitate a year-round conversation where our followers compare experiences and offer each other support. Your stories, comments and queries inform our work and push us to innovate and expand our programs.

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When news breaks in the skin cancer space, the media look to us for answers. Our member dermatologists also help educate those in the media, so they can report the information you need. Year-round, our Marketing Communications team coordinates interviews with newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, podcasts, radio stations and TV shows, resulting in coverage that reaches many millions of people. Check out our Press Room.

Our physician members, donors and corporate partners, along with members of the media, support our programs and help us deliver them to you. We’re incredibly grateful for our allies and their numerous contributions to our work. Become a member.

With the help of our generous donors, The Skin Cancer Foundation has funded more than $2 million in grants since the program began in 1981. Many early career investigators have used their grants to launch studies on the prevention, detection or treatment of skin cancer that ultimately led to significant treatment advancements for patients and physicians. Learn more about our Research Grants program.

Destination Healthy Skin is our mobile community education program. Our crew hits the road in our customized RV, outfitted with two exam rooms. We travel around the country and work with local volunteer dermatologists to provide free full-body skin cancer screenings in the towns and cities we visit.

Destination Healthy Skin by the Numbers

• More than 29,000 free skin cancer screenings provided
• Nearly 12,000 potential skin cancers and precancers identified, including 529 suspected melanomas
• 65 percent of people we serve have never been screened for skin cancer

Our Seal of Recommendation is recognized by consumers worldwide as a symbol of safe and effective sun protection. The Foundation works closely with our volunteer Photobiology Committee to ensure that every product that earns the Seal meets or exceeds our scientific criteria. Look for the Seal of Recommendation on clothing, hats, eyewear, umbrellas, awnings, window film, glass, and sunscreen.

The Big See^® is our public service campaign that empowers you to take a proactive approach to skin cancer detection and ask yourself: “What’s that?” The Big See leverages the seriousness of cancer (the big C) while highlighting the unique characteristic of skin cancer, the cancer you can actually see.

Our Robins Nest program helps skin cancer patients and caregivers find support for specific needs related to health care access and other services. Our goal is to point you in the right direction and connect you with a carefully curated collection of internal and external resources.

Over the years, we’ve pushed local and national government to act on a variety of issues, including banning tanning beds, increasing the number of sunscreen ingredients available to Americans and allowing children to bring sunscreens and other sun protection methods to schools and camps to use as needed. The Foundation is a founding member of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, a coalition of nonprofits and government organizations that collaborate on skin cancer prevention campaigns and advocacy initiatives.

Our international programs, including the International Dermatological Exchange Program and the World Congress on Cancers of the Skin® foster communication and learning opportunities for dermatologists around the world. Physicians learn about breakthrough discoveries in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of skin cancer and implement this education in their patient care.

Donate

You’ll be supporting our awareness and screening programs, research initiatives and educational materials. Donate.

Host a Fundraising Event

From 5k walk/runs and fashion shows to Facebook fundraisers, there are many ways you can organize a fun event for your community while raising money for The Skin Cancer Foundation. We have systems that make online fundraising a breeze, and our Development team is available to help make your event a success!

Pass It On

Use our programs to educate your family, friends and coworkers, and ask your dermatologist if they are a member of The Skin Cancer Foundation. Visit our Get Involved page to learn more.

The Skin Cancer Foundation was founded on the basic tenet that no one should die from this disease. Still, the U.S. loses 50 people to skin cancer every day, and we won’t stop until that number is zero. With your help, we will get there.