GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — With Michiganders gearing up for summer fun — meaning beaches, plenty of sun and long days outdoors — it’s the time of year to think about sunscreen and protecting your skin.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

“Skin cancer is very common,” Dr. Zeyad Sako, an oncologist from Corewell Health’s Lemmen-Holton Cancer Center in Grand Rapids, told News 8. “It’s actually one of the most common type of cancers in general. The good news is that not all skin cancers are as serious and bad as melanoma.” 

Sako, who specializes in melanoma, said he is always educating his patients on finding a good sunscreen. 

“The good quality sunscreen usually is a rule of thumb with an SPF factor of 30 and above,” he said. “Usually if we can find good quality with natural or mineral sunscreens, I think that would be recommended.”

Tips to protect your skin while in the sun this summer

Sako said that seeking shade and wearing the protective clothes are also important choices that can have positive impacts in the long term. 

People should seek medical care right away if they notice an oddity on their skin, like a dark spot, according to Sako. 

“The sooner the diagnosis is made, the easier to treat and the better the treatment,” he said. “That will ultimately reflect on the extent of the treatment and the outcome.”