Take a picture, it lasts longer. It's not just an old schoolyard taunt, it's good advice in the prevention of skin cancer. May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, and Jacki Donaldson over at The Cancer Blog has a terrific tip for making your own skin self-examinations more accurate: use your camera.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you do a monthly self-examination of your skin to detect the early warning signs of the different forms of skin cancer. (For instructions on how to do a self-exam, click here.) When you do your next exam, use your camera to take pictures of the moles or markings you want to keep an eye on, even if it means asking your partner or a friend to shoot those hard to reach places. Pull the photos back out during later exams and use them for an easy baseline reference.

Experts estimate that over 90% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. With summer right around the corner, take steps to protect your skin from the sun by following these easy tips.