During the current Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, experts have offered tips on some natural approaches to reducing the risk of recurrence of this deadliest of skin cancers.

Dermatologists say if detected early, melanoma is highly curable. In stages 0-1 (localized without spreading beyond the outer layers of the skin), the cancer can be removed during an in-office procedure and does not require chemotherapy.

At that point, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent, and there are ways to protect oneself from a recurrence.

According to Dr. Gary S. Rogers, professor of dermatology and surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, melanoma survivors can benefit from eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as legumes, green leafy vegetables, carrots, fish, fruits, whole grains and flax seed.

Taking recommended daily doses of antioxidant nutritional supplements, including beta carotene, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E and fish oils is also a good idea, he adds.

In addition to that, there is evidence that drinking one to two glasses of red wine a day may be helpful due to resveratrol, a polyphenol found in the skins of grapes that has potent anti-cancer properties and becomes concentrated in red wine during the fermentation process.

“Even if you beat melanoma once, you have an increased risk of getting another one in the future,” says Rogers. “With melanoma, you can never let your guard down.”