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Integrative Approach to Skin Cancer and Sun Protection

Additional Non-CME Resources

Course: The Benefits of Sunlight
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

The Benefits of Sunlight

Sun exposure is the main cause of skin cancers. However, sunlight can also have health benefits. Learn about the beneficial effects of sunlight.

Course: Why Sun Protection Matters
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Why Sun Protection Matters

This course aims to shed light on the role of UV radiation in skin damage while touching on the increasing impact of visible blue light and infrared light.

Course: Sun Protective Clothing
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Sun Protective Clothing

Sun protective clothing is important for sun protection. Learn about the different factors that are important for sun protective clothing.

Course: The Science and Safety of Sunscreen
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

The Science and Safety of Sunscreen

Although most dermatologists deem sunscreens safe, there is current debate regarding their safety profile and ingredients.

Course: How Sunscreen Affects Vitamin D Levels
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

How Sunscreen Affects Vitamin D Levels

With the rise in sunscreen use, there is a concern that they may lower Vitamin D levels. Learn the evidence for how sunscreens may affect circulating Vitamin D.

Course: UVA and Blue Light Protection
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

UVA and Blue Light Protection

SPF is not the full story in sunscreens. Learn about the other important parts of sunlight including ultraviolet A and blue light protection.

Course: Myths of Sun Protection
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Myths of Sun Protection

As we go through life we are consistently exposed to the sun, and subsequently its UV radiation. Despite sunlight’s crucial role in allowing us to produce vitamin D3, it can also be detrimental to our skin. This article discusses a few of the most common myths associated with sun protection.

Course: Sun Protection in Skin of Color
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Sun Protection in Skin of Color

Repeated exposure to the sun can lead to premature aging of the skin, known as photoaging. Photoaging is commonly expressed as sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and pigmentation changes.This course will describe the nuances of photoaging among different ethnicities and skin types. Learn how photoaging manifests in different ethnicities and which sunscreens are protective against sunlight including ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and visible blue light.

Course: Dietary Interventions for Sun Protection
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Dietary Interventions for Sun Protection

Food is essential to life and beyond tasting good, some foods can affect our bodies ability to handle UV-damage. This article will discuss the effect that one’s diet can have on UV damage in the skin, in regard to skin cancer and photoaging. Various foods and dietary regimens will be discussed for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and AGE reduction effects.

Course: Oral Supplementation for Sun Protection
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Oral Supplementation for Sun Protection

This article will outline the current evidence for the use of oral supplementation with carotenoids, vitamins, and botanicals for sun protection. While there is an emphasis on clinical studies in this article, some in vitro studies are mentioned to give background information and mechanistic explanations on the supplements discussed.

Course: Evidence for the Use of Topical Antioxidants and Enzymes for Sun Protection
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Evidence for the Use of Topical Antioxidants and Enzymes for Sun Protection

Various antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, ferulic acid, green/ white tea extracts as well as enzymes have been found to exhibit photoprotective effects, which may help prevent photoaging and skin cancer. This activity will explore various studies that provide evidence for the beneficial effects of different antioxidants and enzymes that may be useful adjuncts to standard sun protective measures.

Course: Sunscreen Recommendations for Different Skin Types
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Sunscreen Recommendations for Different Skin Types

Sunlight has adverse effects on the skin, including photoaging and an increased risk of skin cancer. To combat those effects there are general recommendations for sunscreen usage. Experts recommend an individualized routine for sunscreen usage based on skin type. This series reviews sunscreen recommendations for those with different phototypes, photoaging, skin cancers, photodermatoses, pigmentary disorders, and inflammatory skin disorders.

Course: Stress: Everything About Skin Cancer We Were Never Taught in Residency
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Stress: Everything About Skin Cancer We Were Never Taught in Residency

Stress is unavoidable, and at some point, everyone experiences some degree of stress. In fact, upwards of 80% of doctor's visits are for stress-related ailments. Skin cancer is no exception. Whether stress is real or perceived, it can have significant skin health consequences, including suppression of the immune system, increased susceptibility to skin cancer, and impairment of the ability to recover from skin cancer treatment.

Course: Conscious Embodiment: 3 Integrative Steps For Skin Cancer Management
Course
Sun ProtectionPremiumNon-CME

Conscious Embodiment: 3 Integrative Steps for Skin Cancer Management

This masterclass provides an evidence-based approach for how mind-body strategies might be used to help reduce stress contributing to cancer progression, disease-associated anxiety, and adverse effects of treatment. Stress has multiple and wide-ranging physiologic and clinical impacts on skin cancer through the effect of locally secreted hormones and mediators that affect skin integrity, inflammation, and healing potential.

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Integrative Approach to Skin Cancer and Sun Protection chair

User: Keira Barr
Keira Barr
MD

Keira Barr, MD is an innovator in transformative wellness, combining her work in integrative dermatology, mind-body medicine and embodied education with body-based trauma healing approaches to skin health. As a speaker,author, and host of “The Skinny Dipping Rx” podcast, Dr. Keira teaches people around the world how to relieve stress and rejuvenate from within. She created the Somatic Skincare™ method to support her mission of revolutionizing skincare as an act of radical self-care, blending science with soul to help women around the world amplify their resilience, confidence and comfort in their skin. Her expertise, bridging the gap between skin health and mental health, has earned recognition in top media outlets like MindBodyGreen, Glamour, SELF and Oprah magazines as well as prestigious medical journals. 

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Meet Integrative Approach to Skin Cancer and Sun Protection faculty

User: apan@ucdavis.edu
Adrianne Pan

Adrianne Pan is a third year medical student at California Northstate University. She graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with a degree in Cell Biology. Adrianne has a strong interest in integrative dermatology and is always looking for new approaches to improve skin health.

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User: Samantha Tran
Samantha Tran

Samantha is a 3rd year medical student at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she worked as a medical scribe and a pharmacy technician. Samantha has a strong interest in dermatology and believes that healthy skin is a reflection of our inner health. Samantha’s goal as a future physician is to provide quality care for her patients and equip them with the knowledge so that they can be proactive about their health.

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User: Alexa Herzig (alexanherzig@gmail.com)
Alexa Herzig
User: Sonali Nanda
Sonali Nanda

Sonali Nanda is a fourth-year medical student at The University of Virginia, expected to graduate medical school in May 2020. She is applying for a residency position in dermatology this fall. Sonali graduated from The University of Virginia undergraduate program with honors and with research distinction in Neuroscience. Prior to attending medical school, she completed a Masters of Science in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University. Sonali then worked in clinical and basic science research at The Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery in Miami, Florida and explored her interests of hair, pediatrics, medical dermatology, and nutrition in dermatology. She is interested in creating content that will educate physicians and the public on current topics in dermatology.

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User: Tess Hill
Tess Hill

Tess is a second-year medical student at CNUCOM. Tess’ interest in dermatology began with her own struggles with acne, where she learned how afflictions of the skin can affect you physically, psychologically, and emotionally. She is also passionate about Integrative Medicine, mind-body wellness, and patient advocacy. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Tess worked in health insurance and as an EMT.

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User: Jordan Parker
Jordan Parker

Jordan Parker is a 1st year medical student at the University of California, Riverside. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2018 with a degree in biology. Jordan’s clinical interests include pediatric dermatology, specifically autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. He believes that caring for skin conditions is of paramount importance as it is the first part of ourselves that we share with the external environment. He is also a firm advocate for living life with healthy skin, as he sees it as a vital marker of our overall health & well-being. Jordan is committed to helping those of all ages live a healthier and more confident lifestyle.

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User: karanpandher950@gmail.com
Karan Pandher

I was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia and moved to Fremont, California, a diverse city near Silicon Valley, for the remainder of my childhood. I completed my undergraduate career at the University of California, San Diego. Following this, I worked as a remote scribe at Augmedix, Inc. utilizing Google Glass technology to document encounters for physicians in real time. I was then accepted to Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University where I am currently an M3 student. As a future physician, through dermatology, I wish to empower patients through skin education so they can feel in control of their health and specifically the prevention and treatment of their diseases. I also wish to add to the growing field of dermatology through research. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, both recreationally and in competitive adult leagues. I also have an interest in board games such as Settlers of Catan and Codenames, and in cooking fusion foods such as pizza burgers and Korean bulgogi burritos.

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User: LaToya Lewis
LaToya Lewis

LaToya is a passionate advocate for access to affordable, non-invasive healthcare. She is a third-year naturopathic medical student at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. LaToya brings over a decade of business experience to her naturopathic journey. Her background is in strategic leadership, software and infrastructure deployment, and project and portfolio management.

LaToya’s medical interests include integrative dermatology, oncology and chronic disease. Her goal is to decrease the disparities in life expectancy that exists among varied socio-economic levels by influencing systematic change that can positively impact social determinants of health. In her free time, you can find LaToya serving her community alongside her sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she implements initiatives that focus on cultivating academic achievement towards post-secondary education, building economic literacy and empowering others to improve their health and wellness.

LaToya also strives to build community and support naturopathic medical students in her role as Vice President of Membership for the Naturopathic Medical Student Association. Skin Philosophy: Once we learn to speak the same language as our bodies, we can promote lasting healing that emanates on our skin and throughout our bodies.

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User: Maria Mas
Maria Mas
ND

Maria is a naturopathic doctor who attended the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She has a strong interest in integrative dermatology, mental health, environmental medicine, and epigenetics. Maria’s passion is to help make integrative medicine more accessible, especially in the state of Florida where naturopathic medicine is currently not regulated. She is an active member of the FNPA and has participated in naturopathic advocacy and lobbying events such as the DCFLI. In the future, she aims to help others reach their own health goals by providing individualized treatment plans that address the multiple root causes of illness. She also loves animals and would like to help make integrative veterinary care more accessible as well.

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User: Samantha Magana
Samantha Magana

Samantha Magana is currently a first-year physician assistant (PA) student at the University of California, Davis; Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. She completed her undergraduate education at UC Davis, with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology. Before starting the PA program, she worked as a medical assistant for North Pacific Dermatology in rural Humboldt County, CA. Upon successful completion of the PA program, she intends to enter dermatology and continue to help those who are underserved and undertreated.

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User: Lily Guo
Lily Guo

Lily Guo is a Long Island native and grew up on the north shore with her four siblings. She attended University of Rochester where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. She graduated from Chicago Medical School in 2024, and is completing her Transitional Year internship at Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL before starting dermatology residency at Brown in Providence, RI. She is passionate about integrative dermatology, and hopes to broaden her knowledge base and toolbox to help her patients live their healthiest and happiest lives.

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User: Nicole Natarelli
Nicole Natarelli

Nicole Natarelli is a first-year medical student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Prior to matriculation, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Health and Wellbeing. Throughout her undergraduate career, Nicole worked as an orthopedic clinical research assistant, dermatology scribe, and Fairfax Collegiate summer course instructor, where she taught 7-9 medical science and 9-12 chemistry. Her experiences fostered her interest in academic research and medical dermatology, and her mission is to empower patients to make healthcare decisions with evidence-based perspectives on current topics in dermatology.

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User: Marjon Samimi
Marjon Samimi

Marjon Samimi is a current first-year PA-C student at UC Davis. She has a keen interest in dermatology and plans to specialize when she graduates. She plans to graduate and make Dermatology more accessible to those with Medicaid. She also plans to promote diversity in skin conditions, specifically in darker skin tones. In her free time, she enjoys going hiking, baking, and keeping up with the current skincare trends.

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