Skin cancer silently advances among Dominicans, regardless of their age, social status, or lifestyle. The worrying thing is that this disease can develop without giving signs until it is already in complicated stages, warns Dr. Luisa González de Bogaert, a dermatologist surgeon and medical director of the Dr. Huberto Bogaert Skin Clinic.
“In recent decades we have seen a significant increase in cases. Many times patients arrive when the disease is already advanced, and that completely changes the treatment landscape,” explains the specialist, who has been attending cases of this type for four decades.
Exposure to the sun without protection remains the main cause of skin cancer. Ultraviolet rays damage the DNA of skin cells, causing mutations that can turn into melanomas and other types of cancer. Years of sun exposure, combined with genetic factors such as family history or having many moles, multiply the risk.
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The country’s tropical climate, with intense ultraviolet radiation year-round, means that Dominicans are constantly exposed. Even so, many people are unaware of the dangers or do not give the importance it deserves to protecting themselves.
Specialists insist that preventing skin cancer is within everyone’s reach with simple measures: checking the skin every month looking for changes in moles, warts or new spots (following the ABCDE rule: asymmetry, irregular borders, non-uniform color, diameter greater than 6 millimeters and evolution); using broad-spectrum sunscreen greater than 30 SPF every day, even when it is cloudy, and reapplying it every two hours; avoiding the sun between 10 am and 4 pm, when the rays are strongest; and protecting yourself with long-sleeved clothing, wide-brimmed hats and glasses with UV filter.
According to the most recent figures from the Dr. Huberto Bogaert Díaz Institute of Dermatology and Skin Surgery (IDCP-DHBD), nearly 100 cases of skin cancer have been diagnosed during the 2024-2025 period, an indicator that raises alarms in the health sector. This reality was validated by Dr. Luisa González de Bogaert, distinguished as a Master of Ibero-Latin American Dermatology by the Ibero-Latin American College of Dermatology (CILAD). With a 40-year career and presence in more than 50 international congresses, the specialist emphasized that this increase underscores the urgency of strengthening prevention and early diagnosis in the Dominican population.
Medical figures are clear, detecting a melanoma or other skin cancer in time can mean more than 90 percent chance of a cure.
“The skin is the largest organ in the body and reflects our internal health. Many silent diseases manifest there, but go unnoticed until it’s too late,” warned the doctor, who has directed the Department of Dermatological Surgery at the Dr. Huberto Bogaert Díaz Institute of Dermatology and Skin Surgery (IDCP-DHBD) for 38 years.
Many of the cases he saw in 2024 could have had a better outcome with regular check-ups. “When someone receives a cancer diagnosis, their life and that of their family change completely. That’s why we insist so much on prevention,” he explained.
Dermatologists ask Dominicans to visit the specialist at least once a year, as they do with the cardiologist or gynecologist, especially those who are at higher risk: frequent sun exposure, family history, or many moles. Digital dermatoscopy and body mapping allow the detection of suspicious lesions before they advance.
“You don’t have to wait for symptoms. The skin speaks all the time: it shows hormonal problems, autoimmune diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and even initial cancers that are curable if we catch them in time,” said the specialist.
The positive thing is that the almost 100 patients diagnosed during the 2024-2025 period were successfully treated. “Everyone is free of carcinoma because we intervened in time. Early detection saves lives,” concluded González de Bogaert.
About La Clínica de la Piel Dr. Huberto Bogaert:
Founded over 35 years ago by Dr. Huberto Bogaert, a pioneer of Dominican dermatology. It is a reference institution in dermatological health. It is currently directed by Dr. Luisa González de Bogaert, who combines scientific excellence, technological innovation, and humanized care to offer comprehensive solutions in dermatology.
