TAMPA, Fla. – ForCare Medical Center, specializing in dermatology, rheumatology and primary care, continues to remain open for patients, existing and new, at 15416 North Florida Ave. And as May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, leading board certified dermatologist Maria Hicks, M.D. offers these tips on how to protect your skin and prevent skin cancer.
“The weather is beautiful this time of the year and we spend more time outdoors. Since most of the public places and gyms are closed during this pandemic, more people are going outside to walk and exercise while practicing social distancing,” says Dr. Hicks. “Protect your beautiful skin from the harmful effects of the sun.”
To prevent skin cancer, Dr. Hicks suggests:
- Cover your skin with clothing as much as possible – Wear sun protective clothing and wide brim hats. Remember the remaining exposed areas that are still difficult to shield such as hands, face, ears, neck ankles and feet. Protect your eyes with sunglasses to prevent sun exposure and premature aging to sensitive areas around your eyes and to avoid other forms of eye damage.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with maximum SPF – Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or above containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on all areas not covered by clothing. Reapply every two hours or after water exposure or excessive sweating. This will keep your skin looking more beautiful and will decrease your risk of skin cancer.
- Get your skin examined yearly – Regular skin exams help detect suspicious spots that may need to be removed and treated. One hour a year at your dermatologist’s office can save you from skin cancer.
- Do not utilize tanning beds – UV tanning is extremely dangerous for your health. In fact, tanning is outlawed in many countries due to the proven dangers.
Skin cancer is the world’s most common, and avoidable, cancer. Some facts to consider:
- In the U.S. alone, more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.
- In the U.S., more than two people die of skin cancer every hour.
- The latest figures suggest that more than 15,000 people die of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in the U.S. each year — more than twice as many as from melanoma.
- Having had five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
- More people develop skin cancer because of indoor tanning than develop lung cancer because of smoking.
ForCare Medical Center is Tampa’s premier medical facility, specializing in primary care, rheumatology and dermatology. Founded by award-winning dermatologist Dr. Seth B. Forman, ForCare Medical Center and ForCare Clinical Research are located at 15416 North Florida Avenue, Tampa Fl 33613 and have served the Tampa Bay area for more than 10 years. ForCare’s physicians and staff are dedicated to providing excellent care, utilizing the most advanced technology and procedures. More information is available at www.ForCareMed.com and by calling 813.960.2400.