As summer approaches and outdoor activities increase, cancer expert William Wooden, M.D., reminds everyone to practice sun safety to protect against skin cancer. Wooden specializes in melanoma research at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and is a professor of plastic surgery at IU School of Medicine.
“I want to emphasize that sun protection and sunscreen is for everyone,” Wooden said. All skin tones need protection from the ultraviolet light of the sun. He encourages families to view sunscreen use as important as seatbelts and bicycle helmets.
With May designated as Melanoma Awareness Month and the unofficial kickoff to summer, Wooden is available to discuss the following:
- Sun protection tips and how to choose a sunscreen
- Why SPF 15 or SPF 30 is enough and the importance of reapplication
- The difference between mechanical (zinc oxide) and chemical sunscreen
- How to spot warning skins of skin cancer
“There’s a lot of things we can do to keep ourselves healthier, especially when it comes to skin cancer,” Wooden said. “One of the important things is protecting yourself from skin damage. The biggest element of skin damage is from the ultraviolet light of the sun.”
