The recommended course of action is not so much avoidance as protection, according to Jim Baral, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "Your mother should lead a perfectly normal life, like anyone else, and I recommend not becoming a recluse and not walking with an umbrella.

"But she should take precautions," he adds. "Winter or summer, your mom should apply a high-reading sunscreen, at least 45 SPF, every two hours when out. And remember, she has to apply it to her ears, lips, and hands—any exposed part of her body. I stress this: Every two hours; that's the latest teaching. Also, I recommend she wear a wide-brim hat. And if you go to the beach, which you absolutely can, apply every two hours and sit in the shade. This applies to everybody. The time, if possible, to avoid being out is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m."

Going further, Dr. Baral suggests your mother have follow-up dermatology exams "on a regular basis, every six months at least. And all her blood relatives should be examined once a year."