New Mexico is known for its beautiful, frequent sunshine, but it can be harmful. In honor of Skin Care Awareness Month, UNM wants to make sure all New Mexicans are taking the proper steps to detect early signs of the disease.
The university says there are fewer than 40 dermatologists in the entire state, making it difficult for people to schedule an appointment. To help combat the issue, the dermatology department held free skin cancer screenings on Saturday.
“We’re really just trying to raise awareness that this is an issue and then come up with ways to improve access to care,” said John Durkin, assistant professor at UNM.
More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States than all other cancers combined.
