Brooklyn doctors are trying to spread the word to residents about taking precautions when out in the sun or at the beach.

Doctors say sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. They encourage wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher everyday.

Dr. Charles Gropper says that while fair-skinned individuals are more at risk, those with darker skin are not immune from sun damage or skin cancer.

?Skin cancer occurs in people with darker skin. The cancer can be more aggressive than those with fair skin, ? Gropper says.

Gropper urges his patients to be aware of the warning signs of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. He recommends looking out for moles that are asymmetrical, have borders, and may be a color other than brown.

Gropper also the best way to get vitamin D is not by tanning, but by eating foods that contain the nutrient. He says people should check their skin every year on their birthday to notice changes. Gropper says skin cancer is treatable if caught early.