May is National Skin Cancer Prevention awareness month

May is skin cancer awareness month, and today is melanoma Monday.

Did you know melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers in the country?

Research shows indoor tanning increases your risk for melanoma. If you've had bad sunburns, you're also at an increased risk. Other risk factors include having more than 50 moles, large moles or strange-looking moles. Researchers say children are at especially high risk.

"I would akin it to letting your kids smoke in the 8th grade. If you wouldn't let your kids smoke in 8th grade you should be just as careful with sun exposure as well," said Dr. Brian Gastman with the Cleveland Clinic.

To protect your skin from the sun, wear tightly-woven clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and stay in the shade. Also, use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.