Skin Care
Whatever Your Skin Tone, Spread on the Sunscreen
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Jun 26, 2017 - 4:31:31 PM
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - DALLAS – June 26, 2017 – No matter what the color of your skin, UT Southwestern cancer experts recommend wearing sunscreen.
“Anyone and everyone who is going to be outside for any period of time should be wearing sunscreen to protect against skin cancer,” says Dr. Rajiv Nijhawan, a dermatologist with the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “While skin cancer is less common in people of color, when it is found, it is often diagnosed at later stages and can be more serious.”
It’s also important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. “The SPF grading system only covers UVB light, but UVA light also causes skin cancer, including melanoma,” says Dr. Nijhawan, Assistant Professor of Dermatology. The words “broad spectrum” indicate that protection is provided for both UVB and UVA light.
Here are more sunscreen tips from Dr. Nijhawan:
Regardless of sunscreen use, the best protection is to avoid the sun as much as possible by wearing wide-brimmed hats, sun-protective clothing, and staying in the shade whenever possible, he says.
Follow the UT Southwestern Facebook and Twitter feeds for more skin cancer prevention tips.
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