Dermatologists most often find basal and squamous cell skin cancers on the head and neck. That includes the face, neck, scalp and ears. So, all of those areas need to be protected equally from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. 

But what should you look for when choosing a hat specifically for sun protection? How wide should the brim be? And, are some fabrics or materials better than others? 

Here’s what I tell...

As a dermatologist, I examine skin all day, every day. If I see something concerning on your skin, I may perform a punch biopsy to learn more about it. A punch biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that takes a sample of your skin to check for signs of disease.    

Here, I’ll answer common questions about punch biopsies.

Typically, we’ll do a punch biopsy if we see a rash...