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Heading to the beach any time soon? Don’t forget to protect yourself from the sun. National Skin Cancer Awareness Month happens every May, with the goal of raising awareness and educating people about skin cancer.

More people are diagnosed with skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined. Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for young people 15 to 29 years old. The number of women under the age of 40 diagnosed with basal cell cancer has doubled, EPA spokesman Dean Higuchi said.

Skin cancer can be divided into two classes: melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. Though dangerous, non-melanomas are much less life threatening but easier to treat and accounts for 4% of all skin cancer cases diagnosed.

The jump in melanoma cases isn’t entirely understood, however researchers indicates several new trends encouraging sun exposure and skin damage could be to fault. Many people in the United States are getting sunburns annually or spending time at the beach, as well as more young people - particularly women - are utilizing tanning beds.

The Friday prior to Memorial Day has been nicknamed “Don’t Fry Day.” The director of EPA’s Stratospheric Protection Division suggests any change in your skin, whether burned or slightly tanned, is a sign of ultraviolet radiation damage.  You can avoid excessive time in the sun, obvoiulsy  primary cause of skin cancer  “by taking simple steps like putting on sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a t-shirt.”