HEALTH
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South Florida has a high incidence of skin cancer, says Dr. Tim Ioannides,
founder of Treasure Coast Dermatology. He has seen an increase in cases
along the Treasure Coast in recent years.
“Look at the area on your skin exposed to the sun and compare
it to the area that is not exposed and see the difference.
There is no question sun exposure makes you look older than
your age,” notes Dr. Landsman, who also has experience in
dermatology at the University of Miami and the Cleveland
Clinic of Fort Lauderdale.
“Don’t look at how much older you are but how much sun
damage you have.”
AVOID TANNING BEDS
It may be difficult to convince younger people they could
develop skin cancer or wrinkles and aging skin. Landsman
recommends younger folks look at an older parent, brother or
sister to notice changes in their skin from the sun.
“When they see them getting wrinkles, that convinces
them,” Dr. Landsman observes. “That’s all you can do, just
point out that fact and hope they take the advice.”
Some people believe they can avoid damage from the sun
by going to tanning booths. “Going to a tanning bed is absolutely
the worst thing you can do,” Dr. Landsman asserts.
The UV radiation from tanning lamps can lead to
premature aging of the skin, such as wrinkles and brown
spots, and skin cancer. People who start using a tanning bed
before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma, the deadliest
form of skin cancer, by 75 percent, according to the Skin
Cancer Foundation.
This is especially risky for those who begin to use tanning
booths in their teens, notes Dr. Tim Ioannides, dermatologist
and founder of Treasure Coast Dermatology in Martin, St.
Lucie and Indian River counties. “I’ve seen a lot of wrinkles
and sun spots in people in their early twenties (from tanning
booths),” he says.
UV rays penetrate deep into the epidermis, the outer layer >>
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