After slathering sunblock on your face and upper body, you may feel safe and secure with the sunshine on your shoulders, but you may be neglecting to protect a potential hotbed for skin cancer: your feet.

Podiatrists say that the prevalence of melanoma on the feet may largely be a result of how easy it is for people to turn a blind eye to this part of their body. For some, the notion of protecting their feet from the sun may never even cross their minds.

When lounging around the beach or pool, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) suggests always keeping your feet in mind. Apply sunscreen to all surfaces of the feet, and reapply after being in the water. The APMA also cautions against walking barefoot because it exposes the feet to sunburn, as well as plantar warts, athlete's foot and ringworm.

Melanomas can develop anywhere on the foot, including underneath a toenail. They often appear as non-painful areas of pigmented skin or abnormal-looking moles.

Be sure to regularly check your feet and ankles for these kinds of spots, especially if you have a family history of melanoma. Although skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, early detection can vastly improve the chance of recovery.

Source: NewsUSA.com