Tourists enjoy the sun, sand and sea in Boracay Island. (PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – Constant sun exposure, especially during summer when temperatures are high, can cause deadly skin cancer, the Department of Health (DOH) warned on Tuesday.
In a media forum, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said sun burn or redness of the skin after staying under the sun for a few hours is common and not alarming but warned against prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
"Pero 'yung nag-stay kayo the whole day under the sun, tapos nakita niyo po 'yung balat niyo hindi nalang po namumula, pumuputok putok na, nagtutubig, kelangan na po ninyo magpatingin sa doctor para mabigyan kayo ng (But if you stay under the sun the whole day, and your skin is not just red, blistering and watery, you need to see a doctor for) necessary medication o treatment," she said.
Citing data from the Philippine Dermatological Society, Vergeire noted that there are around 2,700 Filipinos who have had skin cancers since 2011.
"From 2011 to 2021, we had a total of 2,102 basal cell carcinomas and 614 squamous cell carcinomas," she said.
Severe sun burn and skin cancer could be prevented.
"Ang paglabas po sa araw, iwasan po natin, lalong lalo na kapag matindi ang sikat ng araw, and always wear sun protection 'yung ating mga nilalagay na mga sunscreens para mapo-protektahan din tayo (Let's avoid staying in the sun, especially intense sunlight, and always wear sun protection like sunscreen so we can be protected) from the direct effect of sun to our skin," she added. (PNA)
