Did you know that one in five Americans is likely to develop skin cancer at some point in time? And while they are generally curable, being well-informed and being aware of skin cancer symptoms and early detection are key. One of the leading authorities on skin cancer symptoms, Skin Cancer Expert Costa Mesa CA author of "The Hidden Path of Skin Cancer", has many recommendations for patients who may be at risk for this serious illness. Here are his top five tips for helping you detect skin cancer early:

If you think you might be at risk for basal cell carcinoma, be sure to schedule a consultation with your family doctor. Basal cells can be cancerous and have similar symptoms to other types of skin cancers. Your family doctor can perform a biopsy and tell you if you have it. Your dermatologist can also help you understand more about basal cells and what makes them a concern. This skin cancer expert has many valuable suggestions about which treatments may work best for you.

One thing about uv rays is that they are most dangerous during the summer months when sunlight is most intense. Make sure you protect yourself from the sun as much as possible. You can go without sunscreen, but often it's not enough. A UV rays skin cancer detection system can help you stay protected from the sun and may be able to give you some insight as to whether you are at risk.

You may not be aware of it, but you may want to consider going with a natural skin cancer foundation. A good one will provide vitamins and antioxidants, which can help you prevent future health problems. A healthy foundation is key to any treatment, and your dermatologist can help you choose the right one. In fact, your dermatologist or physician may be able to suggest a skin cancer foundation you're more likely to benefit from.

The main point is to get skin cancer treatment that will kill off the mole or tumor and keep it from returning. This means choosing a treatment that is as natural as possible, since some treatments have ingredients that are potentially harmful. Never use acid or bleach to remove your mole or any other area of your body for that matter. These methods can cause scarring, permanent damage, or worse.

For the most part, there are two kinds of skin cancer treatments, ones that use lasers and ones that use chemicals. There are pros and cons to using both methods. Chemicals can be used more effectively than lasers, but it takes longer to see results. If you do opt for chemicals, however, make sure you use a brand that guarantees results. Many moles will react to one type of chemical and not another, so it's important to find out the right ones to use for each individual case.

Sun exposure is one of the greatest causes of skin cancer. This is especially true for melanoma, which is one of the most serious types of skin cancer. Even if you aren't prone to skin cancer, it's always wise to wear a sunscreen even on cloudy days when sun exposure is inevitable. UV rays can damage DNA and cause mutations in cells, leading to skin cancer in almost all cases.

In order to avoid skin cancer, stay out of the sun and wear hats and sunglasses. You also need to visit your dermatology regularly and get regular treatments. The earlier you catch it, the better your chances of living a long, healthy life.

One reason that some people are at an increased risk of getting skin cancers is because they have a family history of the disease. However, genetics play only a part in pre-cancers. Other risk factors include sun exposure and age. So if you are older than 50, or if you rarely visit the sun, this may put you at an increased risk of getting pre-cancers.

Having a tan makes the skin look healthy, but the skin cancer is actually a tumor. To treat melanoma, you need to remove it from the skin. But you must catch it early. To do this, you need to visit a skin cancer specialist, like a dermatologist or a doctor of cosmetic surgery. They will remove the skin tumor through surgery.

After the surgery, your dermatologist will teach you how to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays, like the sun exposure. To be safe, you should always use a good sunscreen. This sunscreen will help you avoid the skin cancer and tanning-causing effects of the sun exposure.