NatNews

There’s a simple instruction many individuals have likely been hearing since childhood that is wiser advice than they might realize at the time.

Wear sunscreen.

According to Stanford Medicine, scientific studies have consistently shown that sunscreen, when used regularly and applied correctly, reduces the chances of skin cancer and slows signs of aging.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. and worldwide, with more individuals in the U.S. being diagnosed with skin cancer each year than with all other cancers combined. Research has also shown that approximately 90 percent of all non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Dallas resident Jenny Schultz said her awareness of the risk of skin cancer is one reason she applies sunscreen every single day.

“For me, wearing sunscreen is extremely important,” she said. “Skin cancers run in my family, and I have very fair skin. I also had two severe sunburns when I was younger, so I am at a higher risk.”

Schultz acknowledged that sunscreen alone, while effective in helping to protect the skin, isn’t the only necessary measure to take to protect oneself from skin conditions, including skin cancer.

“When it is comfortable for me to do so, I will protect myself with layers and reduce my exposure,” she said. “I have found the brands that work well, but I know that sometimes even the best sunscreens will not work as well as promised. I also think diet and lifestyle can influence a person’s chances of getting any kind of cancer.”

Dallas resident Adam Gribben, who cycles and runs often, said he applies sunscreen any day he is going to be outside between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“Based on pain mitigation of sunburns alone, I think sunscreen is important to overall skin care,” he said. “Since sunscreen is also a moisturizer, it probably helps in the same way anti-chafe products have the side effect of also being good moisturizers for overall skin care. Squirrel’s Nut Butter keeps parts looking younger, too.”

Gribben added that he typically uses an SPF 30 sunscreen that is sweat-resistant and often adds a few other items of sun protection to shield his skin.

“If I’m working outside all day, I have my Lawrence of Arlington outfit so that there is no exposed skin not covered in fabric,” he said. “One of my favorite movies is Lawrence of Arabia. My hat even has a cape on the back to prevent neck and ear burns. Some heroes don’t wear capes—some wear them on their hats.”

There are two main types of sunscreen: chemical and physical (also called mineral). Chemical sunscreens, the more common option, use ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate to absorb the sun’s rays. Physical sunscreen is a sun protection product that creates a barrier between the skin and the sun’s UV rays and is made using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide—the only two active ingredients approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect against sun damage.

UV light is divided into UVA and UVB, based on the wavelength of the radiation. UVA rays have longer wavelengths and can permeate deeper into the skin, creating oxidative stress and inflammation that contributes to wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and skin cancer. UVB rays cause direct DNA damage that can result in mutations and skin cancer.

The most effective sunscreen one can use should be labeled “broad spectrum,” the FDA designation that it offers both UVA and UVB protection. Both physical and chemical options can be effective if they offer broad-spectrum protection and are used properly. Individuals with sensitive skin or concerns about ingredient absorption may prefer physical sunscreens, while those who are seeking options that are able to be evenly applied more easily and provide better coverage against long-wavelength UVA rays may opt for chemical sunscreens.

Whatever type of sunscreen one chooses, it’s essential not only to wear it but also to make sure to reapply every couple of hours, even on gray and cold days. After all, as Schultz acknowledged, taking care of one’s skin is a key component of taking care of one’s overall well-being.

“I think skin care is extremely important,” she said. “Your skin is your largest organ. I like a physical sunscreen versus a chemical one for that very reason.”

For many individuals, using sunscreen on a consistent basis is a simple solution to protect oneself, keep the skin looking healthy, and avoid spending excessive time and money at the skin doctor. Gribben referenced the song “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen),” which became commonly known in the U.S. in 1999 after being aired by a Portland radio station in 1998 and was based on an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune in 1997.

“Skin cancer is real—everyone knows someone who gets cut on to stay alive,” Gribben said. “I, thankfully, do not have it myself. Like the song says, wear sunscreen.”

Rotokas, an indigenous language to Papua New Guinea, has 12 letters—the fewest of all known languages.

Individuals seeking screen-free in-person connections and opportunities to engage in a new activity might enjoy learning how to play mahjong.

Originally created in China in the 1800s, mahjong first became popular in the U.S. in the 1920s and has seen various resurgences throughout decades since. Most recently, it’s grown in popularity again, and it’s not surprising to see a few individuals gathered at a table at a grocery store coffee shop with an array of tiles before them (actual casual scene witnessed).

Dallas resident Tamra Roberts is now an avid mahjong participant and said she usually plays two to three times each week.

“I’ve played just more than 300 games so far this year,” she said. “I started counting how many games I played when my friend Aimee told me she was playing her 100th game last December when we were sitting on the patio playing. So, on January 1, I began counting each time I played and how many games we played that day.”

Tamra, who noted that being retired gives her the time to play, said she was first introduced to mahjong in October 2024 when her friend Becca Finke invited a few people over to learn.

“She had two ladies come over to teach us—not cheap,” she said. “I teach my friends now—my bunco friends, my pickleball friends, Kevin, neighbors, and just about anybody—for free so that I can have more people to play with. I even got [my daughter] Kristin a set and taught her and her husband. We play with them from time to time.”

Dallas resident Kevin Roberts, Tamra’s aforementioned husband, said he plays once or twice each week and was influenced by Tamra to begin enjoying the game.

“She had been playing for about a year, but I resisted,” he said. “When we were iced in for a week earlier in the year, I decided to learn and was hooked.”

There are several opportunities to join mahjong clubs or take part in lessons throughout the Dallas area. For Dallas resident Elizabeth Cruz, who said she now plays mahjong once or twice a week on a “good week” but generally at least twice each month, it was one of those said lessons that sparked her interest. 

“My friend started playing, and she suggested a few of us go take a lesson at Times Ten Cellars with All Things Mahj,” she said.

For Cruz, playing mahjong is an opportunity to disconnect from the stresses of daily life while also connecting with friends during an activity of which she has become fond.

“I enjoy the social time,” she said. “I also really like that I feel like I’m working my brain in a different way. The game is engaging, competitive, and fun, and it’s a time when I can focus on just the game. I also like that it keeps me from just mindlessly scrolling on my phone.”

As Cruz mentioned, mahjong can certainly become quite competitive and involves astute attention and skill. There are also settings in which the game is simply a social hobby, allowing individuals to spend time with one another and catch up while taking part in a game that engages them in different ways.

While Tamra may keep track of how many games she’s played, her win-loss record is not her focus.

“I don’t win all of the time and sometimes win zero games during a given day,” she said. “But that’s not what it’s about—it’s about being with friends, laughing, and talking. Although the game does take some deep thought, that’s also a plus for my brain.”

That combination of mental and social benefits is also part of the appeal to Kevin.

“I’ve always loved games,” he said. “Mahjong definitely involves concentration and strategy, but it’s also a fun opportunity to compete with friends.”

As Cruz acknowledged previously, mahjong is a game that allows people to step away from their screens for a while, and it doesn’t necessarily involve a significant time commitment. Tamra added that mahjong is also not a game only reserved for certain individuals.

“Anyone can learn it, though the first time or two someone plays, they can get very frustrated,” she said. “But the more you play, the more you like it.”

Like Tamra, Cruz noted that while anyone can take up mahjong as a common activity, it’s important for one to have the patience to learn and get started. 

“The first couple of times you play can be confusing as you learn the rules and nuances,” she said. “Also, the Charleston (dealing of tiles) seems so long at first and like you’re already playing, but you haven’t actually started completely.”

Kevin said Tamra has introduced likely somewhere around 15 to 20 people to the game, and almost everyone still plays, noting that not only can anyone play it, but it’s also a hobby that continues to grow in participation, especially as people desire to be part of more in-person meetups.

“I think it’s another opportunity to get together with friends,” he said. “I have called it the pickleball of board games.”

Tamra echoed Kevin’s notion that the tile-based game is similar to pickleball in its recent rise in popularity.

“Both pickleball and mahjong started making a comeback in the Dallas area over the past three to five years and just took off,” she said. “You can spend crazy money on both of these little hobbies but at the same time spend nearly nothing—and get your body exercise with the pickleball games and your brain exercise with the mahjong. I love it!”

Whether you develop a deep love and/or skill for mahjong or not, the game continues to remain an effective way for individuals to spend time with one another in what could become an activity they truly enjoy.

“I think a lot of people are looking for connection,” Cruz said. “It’s trendy now more so than ever. The tiles are also really pretty, and people like aesthetically pleasing things.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Please make sure that your celebrity sightings are accurate before declaring them aloud

Monday, July 6: Portugal vs. Spain at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium); register for the Katy 5K (code “NATNEWS” gets you a discount)
Tuesday, July 7: Rangers vs. Angels at Globe Life Field; Free Rooftop Movie — Boyz N the Hood at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, July 8: Joji at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, July 9: Major Lazer at the Pavilion at Fair Park; Luke Severeid at Dallas Comedy Club
Friday, July 10: Emerald City Band at Legacy Hall; Rangers vs. Astros at Globe Life Field
Saturday, July 11: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park (also on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday); Bad Bunny Dance Party at Legacy Hall; Young the Giant at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sunday, July 12: Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky at the American Airlines Center; SESSION Summer Pool Party at HALL Park Hotel; Candlelight Jazz — The Best of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole at Edison’s