Playing it Safe in the Sun: Skin Cancer Alert
As summer nears, we all want to spend more and more time in the sun. Keep in mind that the sun can do more than just prematurely age your skin!
Did you know that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers? In the United States, it accounts for almost half of all cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are found in the United States each year.
Here is some advice from the American Cancer Society. You can learn more about skin cancer at: http://www.cancer.org
If you have any concerns, you should contact your physician immediately – it’s always better to be proactive!
What are the risk factors for skin cancer? According to the American Cancer Society, risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include:
- Unprotected or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
- Fair complexion
- Occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds or radium
- Family history of skin cancer
- Multiple or abnormal moles
- Severe sunburns as a child
What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer? Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor.
- Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
- Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule on the skin
- The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
- A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain
Can skin cancer be prevented? According to the American Cancer Society, the best ways to lower the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer are to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time and to practice sun safety. You can continue to exercise and enjoy the outdoors while practicing sun safety at the same time. Here are some ways you can do this: (Note, many of these are also excellent tips for helping prevent premature aging of the skin!)
- Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Seek shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest. Practice the shadow rule and teach it to children: If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
- Wear a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun. Choose comfortable clothing made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.
- Wear sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (about a palmful) and always reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.
- Wear a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
- Wear sunglasses: Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.
- Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. Remember, UV rays travel through clouds.
- Avoid other sources of UV light. Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin.
- Learn more at http://www.cancer.org
Secrets for looking younger: Part two
Whether it's fair or not, we're all judged by how we look... That makes each of us want to look as young as possible. Did you realize there's plenty you can do to look young without spending a lot of money? Here's part two in our series of free secrets for looking younger. Enjoy (and stay young!)
- Get a good night's sleep. When we’ve had a good night’s rest, we show it. There are few things that can age you overnight more than a bad night of sleep. A bad night of sleep can leave your eyes puffy, your skin sallow and can even make your skin sag.
- Human Growth Hormone. Is Human Growth Hormone the ultimate tool in the battle against aging? Some experts say that it is! It’s also controversial and expensive. If you’re interested in learning more about Human Growth Hormone – including its potential to help you reduce your body fat, increase your muscle tone, enhance your sexual performance and put you in a better mood – talk to your physician!
- Don't Overpluck Your Eyebrows. This one is simple, but, once you hit your 30s, you'll want to be careful not to overpluck your eyebrows since eyebrows are less apt to grow back if you excessively pluck.
- Whiten your teeth. Yes, our teeth can age us. Over time, teeth can turn yellow from coffee, tea, red wine and smoking. Luckily, there are main very effective over-the-counter products that you can use to help whiten and brighten your smile. You’ll be amazed at how much younger you’ll look with whiter, brighter teeth!
- Stand up straight. Posture is very important! Think about all of the models and attractive women you’ve seen. Do they slouch? No, they stand up straight and confidently. Additionally, standing up straight will make you look ten pounds thinner in seconds and it will make you look five years younger as well.
- Protect your skin. To keep skin looking young and beautiful, it’s important to protect it. Always keep your skin protected when you’re in the sun by wearing a lotion or sunblock with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15.
- Find a good relationship – and stick to it. Studies show that people in a relationship tend to live longer than others.
- Find a church, synagogue or other place or worship. Studies show that people who attend worship services regularly tend to live longer than people who don’t.
- Keep your memory and mind in tip-top shape. Get out of your daily routine and give your brain a challenge! If you’re right handed, try to do daily tasks with your left hand – your brain will be challenged and get strengthened. You can also do a crossword puzzle or play a brain-challenging game.
- Keep learning. Just because you’re not in school any longer doesn’t mean you can’t make learning a life-long activity. It keeps you young at heart and helps keep your brain active and strong! This could be as simple as reading a book about a subject that interests you or could even involve taking a class about a language you’ve always wanted to learn.
- Spend time with family & friends. Strengthening your relationships can help keep you feeling younger, plus some studies have shown that people with more friends tend to live longer!
- Consider Professional Options. There are many non-surgical professional options to help you restore your youthful looks. If you’ve tried everything else, talk to your dermatologist or health care professional about the options available to you! They likely include exfoliation, chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion and laser resurfacing.
- Restore Your Hormones to Your Younger Levels. Loss of energy? Loss of libido? Loss of stamina? These symptoms often drive patients into the waiting rooms of anti-aging doctors. They're also the typical symptoms of declining hormone levels and the reason that hormone replacement therapy is the number one weapon to battle aging! Experts say that the production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in women and testosterone in men decreases rapidly after about age 35. Many physicians prescribe hormone therapies for their patients and report tremendous results. Discuss your options with your physician!
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