May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

What is Skin Cancer Awareness Month?

Occurring every May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month is 31 days devoted to shining the spotlight on:

• How to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer

• How to find skin cancer early when it's highly treatable

• The fact that people of all skin tones develop skin cancer

Why is Skin Cancer Awareness Month important?

Skin Cancer Awareness Month is important because it's estimated that every day about 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer.¹

Many people can reduce their skin cancer risk by protecting their skin from the sun and not using tanning beds.

What is Melanoma Monday®?

A part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Melanoma Monday is a national day of awareness devoted to:

• Educating people about melanoma, the most serious skin cancer

• Reducing the risk of developing melanoma

• Helping people find melanoma early through skin self-exams and free skin cancer checks

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) launched Melanoma Monday on Monday, May 1, 1995² and has observed it every year since. Melanoma Monday occurs during Skin Cancer Awareness Month on the first Monday in May.

This year, Melanoma Monday is Monday, May 4, 2026.

Why is Melanoma Monday important?

Melanoma Monday is important because melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. In 2026, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 234,680 new melanomas will be diagnosed and around 8,510 people will die of melanoma.³

The AAD encourages everyone to begin a lifelong habit of checking their skin by performing skin self-exams. Here's why these exams are so important:

• If caught early, melanoma is highly treatable.

• Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin, including skin that's had plenty of sun exposure and skin that's usually protected from the sun.

• Melanoma can develop under or around a fingernail or toenail.

• You can find melanoma early by examining your skin for the ABCDEs of melanoma and checking your nails.

To help people reduce their risk of developing skin cancer (including melanoma), this year, the AAD is tackling misinformation. Findings from our annual sun safety survey reveal that misinformation can drive unhealthy behaviors, such as cutting back on sunscreen.

3 surefire signs to help you spot skin cancer misinformation

It can be difficult to spot health misinformation. Sometimes, the people sharing the advice don’t realize they’re providing misinformation. To help you reduce your skin cancer risk, here are three surefire signs you’ve found misinformation.

1. If tanning is recommended, it’s misinformation. A tan from the sun or indoor tanning is never safe, harmless, or healthy.
   
   Science has proven that every time you tan or get a sunburn, you damage DNA in your skin. Over time, this damage accumulates and increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
   
   Do you like looking tan? For people who want to look tan, dermatologists recommend using self-tanner. Watching this video can help you get even coverage and longer-lasting results.
   
   How to apply self-tanner

2. If you’re told to avoid sunscreen, it’s misinformation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Some sunscreens can help reduce your risk of developing sunburn, skin cancer, and signs of premature skin aging, such as wrinkles and age spots.
   
   To get protection from skin cancer, sunburn, and premature skin aging, the AAD recommends that everyone use sunscreen that offers:

   • Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays)
   • SPF 30 or higher
   • Water resistance

3. If sun protection is recommended only on hot, sunny days, it’s misinformation. The sun can damage your skin every day, even on cold or cloudy days. That’s why you need to protect your skin from the sun when outdoors.
   
   Keep in mind that sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. That’s why the AAD recommends that you do the following year-round to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer:

   • Seek shade when appropriate. The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can also look at your shadow. Any time your shadow is shorter than you, seek shade.
   • Wear sun-protective clothing. This includes a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection. For more effective protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label.
   • Apply sunscreen to all skin not covered by clothing. Use a sunscreen that offers UVA/UVB protection, SPF 30+, and water resistance.

Knowing how to identify these surefire signs of misinformation can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, sunburn, and premature skin aging.

If other advice about the sun, tanning, or skin cancer leaves you feeling unsure, ask your board-certified dermatologist. This doctor is an expert at diagnosing and treating skin cancer as well as spotting skin cancer misinformation.

Images
Getty Images

References
¹American Academy of Dermatology. “Skin cancer.” Last updated March 2, 2026. Last accessed April 20, 2026.

²Miller DR, Geller AC, et. al. “Melanoma awareness and self-examination practices: Results of a United States survey.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;34(6):962-70.

³American Cancer Society. “Key statistics for melanoma skin cancer.” Last updated January 13, 2026. Last accessed April 17, 2026.

⁴American Academy of Dermatology. “Indoor tanning.” Last updated February 11, 2025. Last accessed April 17, 2026.

Last updated: 5/1/26