Melanoma Awareness Month: Skin cancer prevention

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:00]It's just about sun season in Chicago, which means it's time to bring back that sunscreen. Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, but the good news is it is preventable. A Chicago doctor and Miss Teen USA here to help kids make sunscreen part of their daily routine. We welcome this morning Dr. Amy Brodsky, a dermatologist and founder of Sun Hero, as well as Sofia Seiya, who is Miss Illinois Teen USA. Thank you both ladies for being here. We really appreciate it. It's time to start talking about that sunscreen, right doctor? All right, let's talk about probably right now. There's so many different Oh my gosh, it gets to be so overwhelming, so confusing. Do you get mineral? Do you get not? Do you get this? Where do we even begin?

[00:00:37]>> Okay, so in order to pick the sunscreen out, you want to look at the label. So turn it over, look at the label.

[00:00:43]Definitely get an all mineral sunscreen.

[00:00:45]That means it's going to have zinc, titanium, and sometimes iron oxide if it's a tinted one. So the higher the percentage of zinc and titanium, the better the sunscreen is.

[00:00:55]>> But don't get sprays. Don't get sprays.

[00:00:58]Usually you can't micronize the zinc small enough to get out of the spray.

[00:01:02]Plus they're made of all chemicals, and most people don't put it on as much as they should, and it blows in the wind.

[00:01:08]So there's all reasons not to use spray sunscreen.

[00:01:11]>> So Sofia, you're going into schools, you're talking about the importance of sunscreens, you're encouraging them to use it. What are you saying to them, and are you even convincing them? Yes, so I've been able to travel all across the state of Illinois and give Sun Hero talks. So Dr. Brodsky actually founded the Sun Hero program, and the main thing I tell kids is yes, you want to go for those mineral sunscreens. You want to be reapplying, but the most important thing is it's better to wear any sunscreen than no sunscreen at all.

[00:01:36]>> a very good point. I mean, to even get these children to apply something rather than nothing.

[00:01:40]>> That's right. And what do you think is the biggest, doctor, the challenge on what people do right versus what they do wrong when it comes to sunscreen?

[00:01:47]>> Well, I think most people don't put enough sunscreen on. So if the label says SPF 30, most people are only putting on like an SPF 15. Plus you're supposed to reapply every 2 hours, and most people don't do that. Um and sometimes when you're in the sun, you remember to wear sunscreen, but if you're in the shade or if it's a cloudy day, you still have to wear sunscreen.

[00:02:07]And what about when you talk about the numbers, like the 15s and the 30s and even 100s? Like, what should we be looking at in terms of numbers? Does that matter? The American Academy of Dermatology really only recommends 30 or higher.

[00:02:20]>> Okay. So, like I said before, look at the ingredients. Make sure it's all mineral, and by definition, if you get an all mineral sunscreen, it'll be at least an SPF of 30 or higher.

[00:02:30]>> All right, Doctor, what's the last message, and Sophia, I'll ask you the same thing that you want to deliver home to people that are watching. Well, skin cancer is the largest number of skin the largest cancer in all of the world. Mhm.

[00:02:42]>> skin. It's your largest organ. So, make sure you put on sunscreen every day, and try to protect yourself as much as possible.

[00:02:49]>> what would you like to say to the folks, maybe the younger generation that are watching this morning? Well, you know, there's so much misinformation out there, and I think the most important thing is that skin cancer is preventable. Um you know, it's one of the most common types of cancer. 20% of Americans are going to get it, but you have the power in your hands to prevent it by putting on sunscreen every day, by being diligent about it. And so, I encourage all people and youth out there to to take charge of their own health.

[00:03:12]How about her?

[00:03:13]Look at you. We love it. Yeah.

[00:03:15]>> so very much, both of you ladies, for joining us. And don't forget, wellness Wednesday segments [music] are being posted on abc7chicago.com.

[00:03:20]Back