Dr. Shani Francis is a relatively newcomer to Manteca.

She’s concerned about skin protection during these hot summer months.

Dr. Francis is a board-certified dermatologist – her personal interest is in skin cancer, hair loss, occupational and holistic dermatology – who joined Lux Dermatology, 296 Cottage Ave., in January.

That was prior to the spread of COVID-19.

“We had to back off from offering complimentary skin cancer screening,” said Francis, who recently pointed out the current safety protocols in place at Lux Dermatology during the pandemic.

She’s originally from rural Davidson County in North Carolina.

 “I’m from a small town located in the middle of farmland,” said Francis, who is a graduate of Wake Forest Medical School.

She has an MBA from Auburn University, and served as chief residency at The University of Chicago Hospitals, where she completed her internship and residency.

Francis – included are her husband and children – lived in Gurnee, a village in Lake County, Ill.

Her plan was to come to California.

The agricultural-rich Central Valley with its harsh summers can be tough on the skin. For that, Dr. Francis recommends dressing appropriate for the outdoors.

“Look at the farmer’s tan as the guidance,” she said.

Rather than short pants and sleeveless shirts, Francis recommends protective wear such as long pants, a hat, and sunglasses for skin protection. “Clothing does a good job in screening out the sun,” she said.

Applying sunscreen is the last line of defense.

“It always wears out and you to reapply it every hour or two,” said Francis.

She added: “Skin cancer screening is a passion of mine.”

Dr. Francis, in fact, is about advancing treatment for skin cancer along with improving the quality of life in each person.

She strongly believes in providing patients with treatment option that they’re comfortable with coupled with giving comprehensive skin cancer evaluations and minimally invasive surgical procedures. Early detection is the key, Francis added.

In addition, she’s involved with the Skin Cancer Foundation and part of the Destination Healthy Skin tour.

For more information, call 209.624.7006 or log on to www.luxdermatologists.com/location/manteca-california.