Summer Sun Safety Month, observed in August, encourages you to enjoy your summer, but take precautions to avoid overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. And if you notice anything unusual on your skin, see your provider.

Summer Sun Safety Month reminds us that skin is the body’s largest organ, so it’s not a surprise that skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer. Each year, about 3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States. These cancers in the outer layer of the skin occur most where skin is exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, neck, lips and the backs of the hands.