Minnesota Physicians Urge Minnesotans to Apply Sunscreen, Cover Up, and Take Precautions to Avoid Skin Cancer

June 3, 2026

Now that summer weather has arrived, Minnesota physicians are urging their fellow Minnesotans to take the summer sun seriously and take precautions to prevent skin cancer. 

“Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States,” said MMA President Lisa Mattson, MD. “Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen, and we must all take the steps necessary to limit our exposure and decrease the risk of skin cancer.” 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that each year, about 6.1 million adults are treated for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common types of skin cancer, at a cost of about $8.9 billion. According to CDC data in 2021, 90,365 people were diagnosed with melanoma, and 8,224 died from that form of cancer.  
  
The CDC recommends taking the following steps to prevent skin cancer: 
•    Stay out of the sun as much as possible between 10 am and 4 pm 
•    Wear clothing that covers arms and legs 
•    Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade face, head, ears, and neck 
•    Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays 
•    Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 
•    Avoid indoor tanning machines 

Latest Press Releases

Minnesota Physicians Urge Minnesotans to Apply Sunscreen, Cover Up, and Take Precautions to Avoid Skin Cancer

June 3, 2026

Now that summer weather has arrived, Minnesota physicians are urging their fellow Minnesotans to take the summer sun seriously and take precautions to prevent skin cancer.

Minnesota Physicians Focus on Five Priorities for Legislative Session

February 11, 2026

The state’s largest advocacy group for Minnesota physicians and physicians-in-training will advocate for five key legislative priorities at the Capitol this session, which begins February 17. The group will hold its annual Physicians’ Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 4, bringing together physicians and physicians-in-training from across the state to meet with their elected officials.

“Dozens of healthcare-related bills go through the Capitol each session,” said Lisa Mattson, MD, the Minnesota Medical Association’s (MMA) president. “But to make an impact for patients and medical practice in Minnesota, we really need to focus our efforts on a few top issues.”

Minnesota Physicians Urge Congressional Delegation to Restrict ICE, CBP Activities in Healthcare Facilities and Other Sensitive Locations, and to Ensure Access to Medical Care at Detention Facilities

February 6, 2026

On February 5, the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), along with several other physician advocacy groups, sent a letter to the Minnesota Congressional Delegation urging Congress, as a condition of ongoing funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities in or near healthcare facilities and other sensitive locations, and to hold DHS accountable for ensuring that detainees are provided with appropriate medical care, food, water, and other basic human needs.