Prolonged sun exposure and sunburns over long periods of time can cause skin cancer. Your genetic makeup is also a factor. In this Q&A, Tamara Lazic Strugar, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explains what steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Why is sunscreen so important?

Sunscreen is the thing that we can control for us and for our children. Using sunscreen, SPF 30 or above, applying it 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapplying it every two to three hours or every time you get out of the water, is one of the things that we can do.

What should I do for my kids?

Keep in mind that childhood sunburns are the ones that usually cause skin cancers later on in life. Skin cancers typically come out 20, 30 years later after the blistering sunburns. So it’s very important to start educating children early on sun protection. SPF 30 or above, a combination of a physical and a chemical sunblock, are the way to go.

What is melanoma?

In order to prevent a deadly form of skin cancer–melanoma–it’s very important to do annual skin cancer screenings, which are recommended for everybody. Once a year, you should see your dermatologist and get all your moles, freckles and the entire skin – it’s the largest organ of our body – it needs to be checked once a year. Catching a melanoma early can be life-saving, so that’s the main purpose of these screenings.

What about other forms of skin cancer?

There’re two more types of skin cancer: basal cell and squamous cell. Those are typically not deadly but can be quite disfiguring if they’re left alone. So, make sure that you see a dermatologist once a year for your skin cancer screening.

Mount Sinai Doctors offers primary, urgent, and specialty care to patients throughout the five boroughs, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester County, and Florida. 

Photo of Tamara Lazic StrugarTamara Lazic Strugar, MD, is a board certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Tuesday-Thursday. She has a particular interest in eczema, psoriasis, acne, warts, skin cancers, medical and surgical treatment of skin disorders, and a wide variety of cosmetic procedures, including Botox, fillers, microneedling, chemical peels. 

How Do You Prevent Wrinkles?

"So how can we prevent wrinkles? Wrinkles happen for multiple reasons: Number one, genetics. Number two, I would say it would be sun exposure. So the one...

Is My Skin Care Routine Too Complicated?

Dermatologist Angela J. Lamb, MD, explains some of the most popular beauty trends and provides advice on how you can determine what works best for your skin.

Could My Hair Loss Be Alopecia?

Hair loss—called alopecia areata—can be upsetting. If it affects you, you may feel as if you’re the only one, but it’s more common than you think. About seven million Americans...

How Do You Treat Acne?

“There’re different types of acne, and depending on the type, we decide how to treat it. It is important to see a dermatologist as early as possible to...

Why Does My Skin Feel So Dry in the Winter?

As the temperatures drop, it’s important to use a moisturizer to keep skin healthy and vibrant throughout the winter months.  On a daily basis, we see advertisements...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!

Share This

Share this post with your friends!