The dangers of UV Rays and doctor recommendations

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Experts say the danger of prolonged ultraviolet ray exposure can lead to skin damage.

Doctor Christopher Pizzola is with Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute in the Oncology and Hematology department.

He suggests wearing sunblock that is 30 SPF or greater to avoid skin damage because it blocks about 97% of UV light from the sun.

He also recommends a sunblock that protects against both UVA and UVB lights.

If you are going in the water, look for water-resistant sunblock that doesn’t wash off while you are swimming.

If your skin gets damaged, here are the signs of skin cancer to look out for:

Doctor Pizzola says “any irregular shaped skin legions that develop could be a sign of early skin cancer. These are usually dark and hyper pigmented with irregular boarders. For individuals that are prone to skin damage certainly seeing a dermatologist would be beneficial.”

He also recommends avoiding sun exposure during the high peak UV hours between noon and 2pm, and to reapply sunscreen every two hours while you are outside.