If you were walking down the street and someone holding flyers outside of a mobile home asked you if you wanted to go inside and get undressed to have your skin checked out, you’d probably want to turn tail and run—not to mention dial 911. But this summer, the Skin Cancer Foundation is traveling cross country in a 38-foot RV providing free skin-cancer screenings. So if you see the trailer, pictured above, you know it’s legit. Check out the 2008 tour schedule to see when you can get a free screening in the nearest location to your hometown. If the RV won’t be in a destination near you, make sure to contact your dermatologist to schedule a skin exam. If you don’t have one, you can find one through the Skin Cancer Foundation’s member directory. The American Academy of Dermatology also offers free screenings.

This is no time to be modest. If your dermatologist doesn’t check your entire body, including your ears, scalp, genital area, calves, and feet, she’s not performing a thorough screening. (Everyone should also perform self-exams.) In fact, I disrobed last week for my free screening in the Skin Cancer’s Foundation’s trailer in its skin tour kick-off location in NYC. And I’m glad I did. While I received a clean bill of health, I learned some important facts about skin cancer I hadn’t known, including how women are predisposed to developing melanoma—a deadly form of skin cancer—on the backs of their legs. Plus, even the most careful sunscreen appliers may forget to put sunscreen on their head.

Francesca Fusco, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in NYC, offers this great tip: Because it can be difficult to apply a sunscreen lotion on your child’s scalp (or your own head) when she has a full head of hair, use a spray-on sunscreen. Just don’t apply it when the wind is blowing, or you’ll miss areas.

Also, don’t forget to wear sunglasses and to put them on your kids as well. (For tips on how to pick a child-protective and childproof pair of glasses, check out the Skin Cancer Foundation’s tips.) And just as you should head to the dermatologist for a skin exam if you’ve never had one, you should also visit an ophthalmologist to check your eyes for any sun-related damage. Should you take your child to a dermatologist for a skin exam? Starting at age 18 if your child has a whole lot of moles, says Dr. Fusco, but that’s if your pediatrician is examining your kid’s skin at checkups.

Skin cancer is uncommon in children, but it is possible, and it’s even more crucial for doctors to teach parents about skin cancer prevention. Why? If your child gets blistering sunburns, it’ll increase her chances of developing skin cancer as an adult. Should your pediatrician spot a concerning mole, she’ll refer you to a pediatric dermatologist. Likewise, pediatricians perform routine eye exams on children and refer parents to pediatric ophthalmologists when necessary.

RESOURCES FOR SUN-SAFE SOLUTIONS

Here are baby-specific tips and advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how your family can be smart when having fun outdoors.

And the Skin Cancer Foundation provides pointers on selecting sun-protective clothing and choosing sunglasses for kids.

SPREAD THE WORD

How common is skin cancer? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than a million new cases of skin cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2008! And in adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 29 years, melanoma is the second most common kind of cancer, reveals the National Cancer Institute.

If friends or family members haven't seen a dermatologist for a full-body skin exam, especially if they have moles, remind them to do so with these e-cards from SELF magazine. You can select one of four different cards, but don't forget to include your own personal missive before hitting send. Neutrogena will even make a donation to skin cancer research for every five cards you send out.