Sun Safety: Skin Cancer Awareness Month 2026

May marks the start of warmer weather in Canada, and it's also Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to raise awareness about skin cancer, share what to look for, and remind Canadians how to protect themselves when they're out in the sun.

Skin Cancer in Canada: The Numbers

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada and the numbers are still climbing. It is estimated that in 2025, 10,800 people in Canada will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, and 1,250 will die from it.¹

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. When found early, it has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers; more than 90 percent. But it becomes much harder to treat once it spreads to other parts of the body, which is why early detection matters so much.

According to the World Health Organization, 85 percent of melanomas among men and women in Canada aged 30 and older are attributed to UV radiation exposure². That means the majority of melanoma cases are largely preventable.

Who Is at Risk?

Skin cancer can affect anyone and can appear anywhere on the body, including areas that are rarely exposed to the sun. That said, certain factors increase risk:

• History of severe sunburns, particularly in childhood or early adulthood
• Excess exposure to UV radiation from sunlight or indoor tanning
• Skin that burns easily, fair or freckled skin, or blonde or red hair
• A personal or family history of skin cancer or excessive sun exposure, including sunburns
• Tanning bed use; early exposure to tanning beds can increase a person's risk of developing melanoma by up to 75 percent²
• A weakened immune system
• More than 50 moles, atypical moles, or large moles

How to Check Your Skin: The ABCDEs of Early Detection

The Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation recommends performing a skin self-examination once a month — checking your entire body, including areas that aren't usually exposed to the sun, like the armpits, scalp, and soles of the feet.

When you're checking your skin, use the ABCDEs of Early Detection:

• A — Asymmetry. Do the two halves of the mole look different if you imagine drawing a line through the centre?
• B — Borders. Are the edges uneven, scalloped, or notched?
• C — Colours. Are there multiple shades present — brown, red, white, blue, or black?
• D — Diameter. Is the mole larger than 6mm — roughly the size of a pencil eraser?
• E — Evolution. Has anything changed — size, shape, colour, or height? Have new symptoms appeared, such as bleeding, itching, or crusting?

If you notice anything suspicious, don't wait to see a doctor. When melanoma is caught early, it's highly treatable.

How to Protect Your Skin

Sun protection doesn't have to be complicated. These are the steps dermatologists and Health Canada recommend:

Seek shade during peak hours. The sun's rays are strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. A simple rule: if your shadow is shorter than you are, find shade.

Wear sun-protective clothing. Lightweight long-sleeve shirts, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection all reduce your exposure meaningfully.

Apply sunscreen (and reapply it). Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, apply it generously and evenly at least 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply at least every two hours during exposure. Reapply more frequently after swimming, sweating, or towelling off. Don't forget your lips, use a lip balm with SPF.

Avoid tanning beds. There is no safe tan from a tanning device. Artificial tanning devices emit up to 15 times the amount of UV rays as sun exposure.

Check your sunscreen's expiration date. Expired sunscreen loses its effectiveness, swap it out at the start of each summer season.

Learn More

Visit the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation and Melanoma Canada for resources, self-exam guides, and information on Skin Cancer Awareness Month events across Canada.