Dr. Teo Soleymani

In fact, there's actually an interesting thing that you bring up in that a lot of patients, a lot of people, communities, populations, indigenous populations in Central America and Africa and South America take forms of sun protection that we learn from. There's a group of indigenous people that live along the Amazon River in Brazil and Mostly in Brazil.

And they tend to go on expeditions on the river for fishing. And we found that they consume a fern before they go on these three-day fishing expeditions. They eat like this plant. And we couldn't figure out why until somebody studied it. And they found that when they ate this plant, they burned less when they were outside. They didn't have topical sunscreens the way we have at our local drugstore.

And they tend to go on expeditions on the river for fishing. And we found that they consume a fern before they go on these three-day fishing expeditions. They eat like this plant. And we couldn't figure out why until somebody studied it. And they found that when they ate this plant, they burned less when they were outside. They didn't have topical sunscreens the way we have at our local drugstore.

And they tend to go on expeditions on the river for fishing. And we found that they consume a fern before they go on these three-day fishing expeditions. They eat like this plant. And we couldn't figure out why until somebody studied it. And they found that when they ate this plant, they burned less when they were outside. They didn't have topical sunscreens the way we have at our local drugstore.

They had physical clothing barriers and this plant. And they found that there's a fern called polypodium that they consume. And when they consume it, it increases the time they can spend in the sun before their skin burns. So just learning from populations and why they do things a certain way can just also open our eyes to other options.

They had physical clothing barriers and this plant. And they found that there's a fern called polypodium that they consume. And when they consume it, it increases the time they can spend in the sun before their skin burns. So just learning from populations and why they do things a certain way can just also open our eyes to other options.

They had physical clothing barriers and this plant. And they found that there's a fern called polypodium that they consume. And when they consume it, it increases the time they can spend in the sun before their skin burns. So just learning from populations and why they do things a certain way can just also open our eyes to other options.

I think, unfortunately, sunscreens have been shoved down our throat, but there are also other great options and greater options out there.

I think, unfortunately, sunscreens have been shoved down our throat, but there are also other great options and greater options out there.

I think, unfortunately, sunscreens have been shoved down our throat, but there are also other great options and greater options out there.

Yeah, totally. Great question. Actually, funny you say that. My dad still doesn't understand what I do for a living. I say I'm a skin cancer surgeon. He's like, where did the cancer come from? I'm like, the skin. He's like, yeah, but what organ to the skin? My dad's tan. He's not just proud that you're a doctor.

Yeah, totally. Great question. Actually, funny you say that. My dad still doesn't understand what I do for a living. I say I'm a skin cancer surgeon. He's like, where did the cancer come from? I'm like, the skin. He's like, yeah, but what organ to the skin? My dad's tan. He's not just proud that you're a doctor.

Yeah, totally. Great question. Actually, funny you say that. My dad still doesn't understand what I do for a living. I say I'm a skin cancer surgeon. He's like, where did the cancer come from? I'm like, the skin. He's like, yeah, but what organ to the skin? My dad's tan. He's not just proud that you're a doctor.

He's like, well, what's a skin cancer surgeon? So I think you bring up a good point. Generally speaking, it's an SPF somewhere between 5 to 10. You're just your native skin type. If you're a little bit darker, you can get a higher SPF equivalent. I know I can tolerate an hour out in midday sun without turning red or burning. It's very different than a Northern European skin type.

He's like, well, what's a skin cancer surgeon? So I think you bring up a good point. Generally speaking, it's an SPF somewhere between 5 to 10. You're just your native skin type. If you're a little bit darker, you can get a higher SPF equivalent. I know I can tolerate an hour out in midday sun without turning red or burning. It's very different than a Northern European skin type.

He's like, well, what's a skin cancer surgeon? So I think you bring up a good point. Generally speaking, it's an SPF somewhere between 5 to 10. You're just your native skin type. If you're a little bit darker, you can get a higher SPF equivalent. I know I can tolerate an hour out in midday sun without turning red or burning. It's very different than a Northern European skin type.

We define them by Fitzpatrick types. In my family, there's very little skin cancer. I'm ethnically Armenian. But traditionally, Armenians are blonde-haired blue eyes. They're of the Caucasus mountain region. So somewhere in my genetics, there's a little bit of predisposition from our ancestry. But there's some protection in the more Middle Eastern blend that I have. I have olive skin.

We define them by Fitzpatrick types. In my family, there's very little skin cancer. I'm ethnically Armenian. But traditionally, Armenians are blonde-haired blue eyes. They're of the Caucasus mountain region. So somewhere in my genetics, there's a little bit of predisposition from our ancestry. But there's some protection in the more Middle Eastern blend that I have. I have olive skin.

We define them by Fitzpatrick types. In my family, there's very little skin cancer. I'm ethnically Armenian. But traditionally, Armenians are blonde-haired blue eyes. They're of the Caucasus mountain region. So somewhere in my genetics, there's a little bit of predisposition from our ancestry. But there's some protection in the more Middle Eastern blend that I have. I have olive skin.

You're absolutely right. So I know my personal risk for skin cancer is lower than somebody from Northern Ireland. my form of sun protection primarily is more for premature aging related to sun than it is skin cancer. Now, I'm not saying I'm immune to it by all means. I just know that my risk factor is a little bit less.