By Chris Mastaler

Special to The Pilot

Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the skin.

Ask someone for help when checking your skin, especially in hard-to-see places. If you notice a mole different from the others or that changes, enlarges, itches or bleeds (even if it is small), you should see a dermatologist.

"Adults over age 40, especially men, have the highest annual exposure to ultra-violet (UV) radiation, which is responsible for 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers and approximately 65 percent of melanoma cases. Each year in the U.S., approximately 5,700 men die of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer," the Skin Cancer Foundation reported in October 2011.

You are probably in the habit of packing sunscreen for a day at the beach or pool. But the sun is up there 365 days a year, and you need protection much of that time to reduce your lifetime sun-exposure total.

Everyday exposure counts. You do not have to actively sunbathe to get a damaging dose of the sun.

Find out how best to protect yourself no matter what the season. Practice these sun-protection basics all year round to give your skin the best chance of long-term health.

The following paragraphs are most important:

Wear durable sun-protective apparel, e.g., shirts, shorts, slacks, etc., that are made of "all-natural" or "organic" materials, such as cotton, hemp, silk, corn, birch, alpaca, linen, etc. These materials block 97 percent of the sun's ultra-violet rays versus polyester, rayon blends, etc., which are not all-natural materials.

Note: Sunscreens that are at least 15 percent sun protection factor (SPF) for most adults is considered satisfactory for most people. Those who have lighter complexions and babies should wear 30 percent or higher, since their fairer skin is more sensitive to the sun's more harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Wearing all-natural clothing made from organic cotton, etc., wearing wide-brimmed hats and applying a good sunscreen daily in all seasons is most important in lessening your chances of getting skin cancer.

Also, make certain to see your dermatologist once a year for a professional evaluation and for any places that may have been missed in your examination.

Chris Mastaler, of Pinehurst, is the owner of the website www.ecogreensunproducts.com. Find out more information on protecting yourself with sunscreen at her website.