The dermatologist urged her followers to look after their skin health in a viral social media post
A dermatologist has urged people to take their skin health seriously after treating a young woman with cancer. Dr Toral Vaidya, a US-based dermatologist, regularly shares educational content on her popular TikTok account @toralvaidyamd. The skincare expert often comments on skin myths and trends.
In one of her latest videos, she issued a warning for anyone keen to achieve “glass skin”, or a smooth, dewy complexion. Addressing social media users on TikTok, where beauty creators often share advice on how to achieve ‘glass skin’, the doctor explained why she wants to see people rethink their priorities.
Dr Vaidya wrote: “Respectfully, you shouldn’t be so focused on having glass skin. You should be focusing on having healthy skin.” She continued: “I just diagnosed a girl in her 20s with nearly flawless skin with a skin cancer on her nose.
“She thought it was a pimple and tried to squeeze it. She will have to have surgery that will require moving skin from her cheek to her nose and will have permanent scarring in the center of her face. She has been tanning for years. Take skin cancer seriously and protect your skin from the sun.”
As the NHS explains, ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds, is the main cause of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. While skin cancer is not always preventable, you can reduce your risk by being careful in the sun.
Issuing sun safety tips on a dedicated webpage, the NHS says to make sure you:
- spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
- never burn
- cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
- take extra care with children
- use at least factor 30 sunscreen
Speak to your GP if you have any concerns about your health. It’s important to get any symptoms checked as soon as possible.