| Your skin is the first thing that people | | | | are many experts who will tell you that a |
| notice about you-at every age! We often take | | | | much better choice for topical protection is |
| it for granted. The fact is we rely on our | | | | a sunblock compounded with zinc oxide, |
| skin health to protect us every day of our | | | | without sensitizing chemicals. Zinc oxide |
| lives, as the body's first defense from the | | | | reflects the UV rays and is particularly |
| damaging effects of the environment. | | | | effective for the most sensitive skin. We |
| | | | use zinc oxide in our Solar Rx 30+ sunblock, |
| What you choose to do to your skin has | | | | to provide more complete protection and |
| everything to do with the skin results that | | | | coverage without any chemicals to irritate |
| you will get. Everyday, people use soaps, | | | | the skin. As a melanoma survivor I choose to |
| scrubs, gels, toners, lotions, creams, skin | | | | avoid titanium dioxides as much as possible |
| lighteners, brighteners, faders-and the list | | | | on my skin. |
| goes on! Most of these products contain | | | | |
| chemicals that can sensitize, irritate and | | | | I also learned that sunscreen alone will not |
| even weaken the skin. | | | | prevent aging of the skin-special attention |
| | | | needs to be paid to the delicate face, neck |
| The absolute worst culprit for lifetime | | | | and hands. These areas of the body should be |
| damage and irritation of the skin is the | | | | shaded and covered as much as possible. No |
| relentless everyday effects of solar | | | | effective comprehensive skin protection plan |
| radiation. How much time you've spent on the | | | | can be without hats, protective clothing, |
| beach blanket or at the pool in your lifetime | | | | sunglasses and sunblock. Protection from |
| does make a difference in how your skin looks | | | | solar radiation in fact requires a plan and |
| today. In the case of melanoma skin cancer, | | | | some realistic and rational thinking! Your |
| if not detected early it can kill you. | | | | skin health and perhaps your life depends on |
| | | | just how you decide to go about doing this. |
| It still astounds me when I hear someone say; | | | | |
| "I'm just working on getting a base tan" as | | | | Radiation is radiation... Radiation is |
| if it is good for you! How did an entire | | | | cumulative |
| generation flock toward the beach with the | | | | |
| belief that the sun was good for you and act | | | | If you are reading this and saying to |
| as if tanning was healthy, attractive and | | | | yourself, well I have survived this long |
| desirable? | | | | without a problem-then I hope you will |
| | | | consider the following for loved ones around |
| Circa 1960's- 70's Tanning culture rides the | | | | you, and especially for your children or |
| wave | | | | grandchildren: |
| | | | |
| Picture a sun-drenched California beach with | | | | Sunburn in childhood is a key determining |
| young muscle builders, beach babes and surfer | | | | risk factor for the most dangerous type of |
| dudes. Back then, the "Ho Daddy's" were | | | | skin cancer - melanoma. The experts warn |
| actually the want to be surfers that hung out | | | | that just one blistering sunburn in childhood |
| on the beach, in hopes of cruising with the | | | | is estimated to double the risk of getting |
| beach babes. The genuine surfers didn't care | | | | melanoma later in life. |
| about all of the beach hubbub; after all they | | | | |
| really just wanted to catch the perfect wave | | | | I grew up with wonderful childhood sailing |
| and hang ten. | | | | experiences on the Chesapeake Bay. |
| | | | Unfortunately I experienced a blistering |
| No kidding-the tanning culture did not start | | | | sunburn close to the age of nine. Thirty |
| in the U.S. until the 1960's. For the | | | | years later, when Dr. Greenway at Scripps |
| countless hours they spent outdoors in the | | | | Clinic took my chronological childhood |
| sun, young people created the foundation for | | | | history of sun exposure, he concluded that |
| some extensive cumulative skin | | | | the radiation damage that contributed to my |
| damage-radiation is real, it burns skin | | | | melanoma most likely occurred between the |
| tissue. Skin that is tanned is the body's | | | | ages of nine to fifteen years of age! |
| response mechanism to the repeated injury to | | | | |
| their skin. Pictures of Hollywood stars on | | | | The Mayo Clinic's Leslie Christenson, M.D. |
| Malibu and Santa Monica beaches and poolside | | | | stated in her August 2005 study results; |
| in Palm Springs and Las Vegas jump started | | | | "Because non-melanoma skin cancers generally |
| the culture of tanning in this country. And | | | | occur in persons after 50, very little |
| unfortunately many of them today still | | | | attention has been paid to their incidence in |
| continue to fuel the fire! | | | | younger adults and children. We have |
| | | | discovered that these cancers are becoming |
| Interesting flashback...if you watch an old | | | | increasingly prevalent in younger people, and |
| period movie on the Turner Classic Movie | | | | if steps are not taken at a young age to |
| channel you are likely to see cowboys wearing | | | | prevent these cancers, we may see an |
| long sleeved shirts, long pants and hats and | | | | exponential increase in the overall |
| gloves; while western frontier women appear | | | | occurrence of non-melanoma skin cancers." |
| with long skirts, long sleeved shirts, | | | | |
| gloves, big brimmed hats and parasols. As | | | | The threat is real. Overexposure to |
| if! | | | | radiation, ultraviolet light from the sun or |
| | | | indoor tanning is the greatest risk for skin |
| Not so long ago it really was all about | | | | cancer. Excessive sun exposure for the first |
| taking cover from the sun and the elements. | | | | 18 years of life increases the risk of |
| Well, I believe it is once again high time to | | | | melanoma. |
| take prudent cover and understand how to | | | | |
| protect yourself and your loved ones every | | | | The clear message here is that we can take |
| day of the year from damaging solar | | | | specific actions now to eliminate sunburn in |
| radiation. | | | | children and young adults. Those actions, |
| | | | taken now, can indeed help to prevent the |
| Circa 2005 - The stakes are high | | | | epidemic of skin cancer incidence and death |
| | | | from skin cancer should decrease! |
| We are paying a huge price for continually | | | | |
| damaging our skin | | | | Early detection and diagnosis is critical to |
| | | | increase melanoma survival |
| You are never too old or too young to suffer | | | | |
| from the damaging effects of solar radiation. | | | | Know the early warning signs of skin cancer |
| Scientific studies recently found that | | | | |
| having several sunburns over the course of a | | | | The three main forms of skin cancer are Basal |
| lifetime can double or even triple melanoma | | | | Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and |
| risk, no matter when the sunburns occur. The | | | | Melanoma. Comprehensive skin awareness |
| fact is there are no safe ultraviolet (UV) | | | | begins with knowing your body and skin! You |
| rays or safe suntans. | | | | know your skin better than anyone else. |
| | | | Check your body thoroughly at least every |
| More than half of all new cancers in the USA | | | | three months. Look for any changes. Learn |
| are skin cancers. The sun is responsible for | | | | and use the ABCD's as you examine your skin. |
| more than 90 percent of all skin cancers. | | | | It is especially important to help your loved |
| Precaution and early diagnosis could prevent | | | | ones, your spouse, partner and especially |
| 100,000 new cancer cases and 60,000 melanoma | | | | children and young adults to recognize |
| deaths in the U.S. each year! | | | | changes in their skin. Early detection is |
| | | | critical to reducing deaths due to melanoma! |
| The Mayo Clinic revealed in August 2005 that | | | | |
| their studies have indicated that the | | | | The early warning signs are commonly referred |
| incidence of two types of skin cancer has | | | | to as (the ABCD's): |
| tripled in women under 40. Skin cancers are | | | | |
| increasing rapidly in people over age 50 as | | | | - A- Asymmetry : one half of a mole does not |
| well. Melanoma skin cancer is rising at an | | | | match the other half. Common moles are round |
| alarming rate. | | | | and symmetrical. |
| | | | |
| Melanoma is dangerous because it can be a | | | | - B- Border irregularity: skin cancer may |
| horrifyingly swift and silent killer if not | | | | have uneven or irregular borders; the edges |
| detected at its earliest stages. There are | | | | are ragged, notched or blurred. |
| many stories of heartbreak of losing loved | | | | |
| ones so early in their lives to this type of | | | | - C- Color: mole is not uniform in color; |
| cancer and leaving a legacy of the importance | | | | watch for varied colors that can range in |
| of being vigilant and paying attention to the | | | | shades from brown, tan or black and also red, |
| skin's early warning signals. Early | | | | white and blue |
| diagnosis is in fact the best chance for | | | | |
| excellent cure rates. My defining | | | | - D- Diameter: if a spot is larger than a |
| moment....having had a melanoma changed | | | | pencil eraser (6mm or ΒΌ inch diameter it |
| everything | | | | could be trouble; melanomas are usually |
| | | | larger than 6mm. |
| I will always remember the day when my | | | | |
| husband, Bob, first noticed a strange-looking | | | | To be sure use the following guide along with |
| spot on my leg. It was a glorious summer day | | | | the ABCD's-Any changes in size, color, shape |
| in San Diego where we lived aboard our boat, | | | | or texture of a mole, new mole, itching or |
| and I had just kicked back and propped up my | | | | bleeding, a change in skin including a growth |
| feet when Bob pointed to a small waxy spot on | | | | that increases in size, a spot that continues |
| the outside of my left leg near my ankle. It | | | | to scab, itch or bleed---see a clinical |
| caught me off guard because even when I | | | | practitioner/dermatologist immediately! |
| shaved my legs I had not noticed this funky | | | | |
| spot! First it was in a tough place to see | | | | We have created a cancer awareness card for |
| it-I actually needed a mirror to get a good | | | | your reference see below. |
| look at it. Second, it was a pearly | | | | |
| translucent white looking area, like a very | | | | Solar Rx |
| thin piece of hot wax had been dripped on my | | | | |
| left ankle just above the ankle bone. At | | | | Keys philosophy on Sun Protection to avoid |
| first glance it was not alarming and only | | | | melanoma and skin cancers: |
| about the size of the tip of my little finger | | | | |
| (little then did I know how much size | | | | We believe in a comprehensive awareness |
| matters). We both agreed to keep a watchful | | | | program to avoid life-long solar radiation |
| eye on it. About 6 weeks later Bob was | | | | damage that begins with the simple statement: |
| alarmed when he saw that this "waxy" spot on | | | | |
| my left ankle turned bright red. I made | | | | The best way to prevent skin cancer and |
| several calls to friends in the medical | | | | photoaging is to keep the harmful UV rays |
| community who urged me to get an emergency | | | | from contacting and penetrating the skin. |
| appointment to a dermatologist. At first I | | | | |
| thought they were over-reacting, and then I | | | | Photoaging, caused by the UV radiation, |
| recalled the tone and urgency in their | | | | directly contributes to the wrinkles, skin |
| voices. It had unnerved me and that spurred | | | | blotchiness, redness and collagen and tissue |
| me into action. How lucky I was to be | | | | breakdown that show up in people as skin |
| referred into Dr. Hugh Greenway, a renowned | | | | damage. Due to excessive exposure to the sun |
| dermatology specialist at Scripps Clinic in | | | | and tanning devices, many young adults are |
| San Diego. Dr. Greenway is an | | | | seeing the effects of this damage at an |
| internationally recognized expert in skin | | | | earlier age---in their twenties! |
| cancer surgery and considered by peer review | | | | |
| to be one the best doctors in America. | | | | We believe it is prudent advice for all |
| Within two weeks of discovering the red | | | | ages--stay out of the sun and limit time |
| lesion, I had a skin biopsy and upon | | | | spent in the sun. Avoid unnecessary sun |
| receiving the dermatology report confirming | | | | exposure between 10:00am and 4:00 pm, when |
| melanoma, I was advised to report for surgery | | | | the solar UV rays are the strongest. Use sun |
| within five days. It all happened so | | | | avoidance protective measures rain or shine, |
| incredibly fast which served to underscore | | | | all year-round. |
| the seriousness of this type of cancer. | | | | |
| | | | We understand that complete sun avoidance is |
| After having successful Mohs Microsurgery at | | | | not realistic so we offer the following four |
| Scripps Clinic, Dr. Greenway was adamant that | | | | steps to make people aware of how they can |
| the most important thing I could do was to be | | | | protect their skin and the skin of loved ones |
| vigilant about limiting the amount of time my | | | | from the adverse affects of solar radiation: |
| skin was ever exposed to direct sunlight, | | | | |
| especially between the daytime hours of | | | | Prepare for the time that you know you will |
| 10-4pm. He stressed how UV radiation was | | | | be exposed to the sun. The best way is to |
| now my arch enemy and how important it was to | | | | think of it as creating and using your own |
| wear sun protection every single day---rain | | | | portable shading devices: |
| or shine. He instructed me to always wear a | | | | |
| hat and protective clothing when outside or | | | | Slip on a SPF 30+ long sleeved shirt and long |
| when exposed to the sun for long periods of | | | | pants or long skirt |
| time, and to cover up while driving or even | | | | |
| sitting for long periods of time next to a | | | | Slop on a SPF 30+ broad spectrum Sunblock |
| bright sunny window. | | | | with Zinc Oxide |
| | | | |
| Beating rising skin cancer oddsdepends on | | | | Slap on a wide-brimmed SPF 30+ Hat with a 4-5 |
| educating people of all ages against | | | | inch brim |
| conventional thinking | | | | |
| | | | Shades for shielding the eyes-always wear UV |
| Perhaps the greatest education I received is | | | | filtering sunglasses |
| that the use of sunscreen does not mean that | | | | |
| you can stay in the sun as long as you like! | | | | For more information on skin cancer |
| Yes, really! I learned that anytime you | | | | awareness, please see the following resources |
| spend time outdoors you are risking solar | | | | on our website: |
| radiation damage. Radiation is cumulative. | | | | |
| The hours of 10am-4pm remains the most | | | | - Keys Slip, Slop, Slap, Shades and ABCDs of |
| dangerous period to spend any extended time | | | | Melanoma Wallet Card is available for |
| in the sun. Extended outdoor exposure during | | | | download as a pdf file ato |
| these hours should be avoided. Sunscreens | | | | |
| in fact absorb or scatter UV radiation and | | | | - Mayo Clinic, Research Findings Reported to |
| can still allow harmful UV rays to penetrate | | | | JAMA August 10, 2005; |
| and damage the skin. | | | | |
| | | | - The Skin Cancer Foundation website |
| There is controversy and concern about | | | | |
| sunscreens. Sunscreens containing | | | | - American Academy of Dermatology website |
| benzophenones and cinnamates act to absorb UV | | | | |
| rays before they enter the skin. The concern | | | | Wendy Steele, Keys Soap Founder is a Melanoma |
| is that sunscreens contain chemical particles | | | | Survivor. She is an Inner Circle member of |
| small enough to enter the bloodstream. There | | | | the Skin Cancer Foundation. |