Dermatology & Skin Health Team with IMPACT Melanoma to Install Free Sunscreen Dispensers in Newburyport

Dermatology and Skin Health, the City of Newburyport, and IMPACT Melanoma, a non-profit aimed at providing education, prevention, and support for the most serious form of skin cancer, have teamed up to provide three, free sunscreen dispensers for public use in downtown Newburyport, as part of the IMPACT’s Practice Safe Skin program. Dermatology & Skin Health has long been an advocate of educating the public about protecting one’s skin and practicing proactive, remedial efforts to eradicate the growing incidences of skin cancer due to exposure to the sun’s UV rays.

“One thing I deeply appreciate about our work here at Dermatology & Skin Health, is how we’re able to partner and work with great community driven organizations,” said Dr. Gary Mendese of Dermatology & Skin Health. “It’s inspiring to me to forge these bonds and to collaboratively work for the good of everyone throughout our greater communities. As a Mohs Surgeon, I deal firsthand with the removal of existing

melanomas and other skin cancers that can significantly affect patients' lives. Impact, in this case, comes in the form of pushing forward, and by helping to install these sunscreen dispensers in Newburyport to help inform people that exposure to the sun needs to be approached in a safe, routine manner. The adverse effects are very real, and can be very scary. Deadly, in fact…”

The dispensers – which Dermatology & Skin Health has been working to install in and around Dover for years – will be installed in downtown Newburyport and available for public use this Memorial Day Weekend (and through the Summer).

“The Newburyport Health Department is so excited to partner with Dermatology & Skin Health, and Impact Melanoma to be able to provide free sunscreen for our residents and visitors during the busy summer months, said Newburyport Public Health Nurse, Pamela Palombo. “The dispensers are a great way to help raise awareness about the importance of regular sunscreen use in the reduction of skin cancer, and make sunscreen readily accessible to everyone.”

The specially designed dispensers, which are being purchased and installed across the country, are part of Practice Safe Skin, a program that offers sunscreen as an effective preventive measure to help avoid sun over-exposure year round. Each sunscreen dispenser is equipped with four 1000 mL bags of sunscreen and contains an all-natural blend of 6% zinc and 6% titanium SPF-30 sunscreen, safe for people aged 6-months and up. Ingredients are printed on the machines upon installation.

A recent study from The University of Colorado cited this program as an influencing force behind the decrease in melanoma rates in the Northeast. Melanoma is rising faster than any other cancer with one person every 50 minutes dying from the disease. Studies show that with daily sunscreen protection, the risk of melanoma is preventable.