| Your skin is the first thing that people | | | | the skin. |
| notice about you-at every age! We often | | | | There is controversy and concern about |
| take it for granted. The fact is we rely | | | | sunscreens. Sunscreens containing |
| on our skin health to protect us every | | | | benzophenones and cinnamates act to |
| day of our lives, as the body's first | | | | absorb UV rays before they enter the |
| defense from the damaging effects of | | | | skin. The concern is that sunscreens |
| the environment. | | | | contain chemical particles small enough |
| What you choose to do to your skin has | | | | to enter the bloodstream. There are |
| everything to do with the skin results | | | | many experts who will tell you that a |
| that you will get. Everyday, people use | | | | much better choice for topical |
| soaps, scrubs, gels, toners, lotions, | | | | protection is a sunblock compounded with |
| creams, skin lighteners, brighteners, | | | | zinc oxide, without sensitizing |
| faders-and the list goes on! Most of | | | | chemicals. Zinc oxide reflects the UV |
| these products contain chemicals that | | | | rays and is particularly effective for |
| can sensitize, irritate and even weaken | | | | the most sensitive skin. We use zinc |
| the skin. | | | | oxide in our Solar Rx 30+ sunblock, to |
| The absolute worst culprit for lifetime | | | | provide more complete protection and |
| damage and irritation of the skin is the | | | | coverage without any chemicals to |
| relentless everyday effects of solar | | | | irritate the skin. As a melanoma |
| radiation. How much time you've spent | | | | survivor I choose to avoid titanium |
| on the beach blanket or at the pool in | | | | dioxides as much as possible on my skin. |
| your lifetime does make a difference in | | | | I also learned that sunscreen alone will |
| how your skin looks today. In the case | | | | not prevent aging of the skin-special |
| of melanoma skin cancer, if not detected | | | | attention needs to be paid to the |
| early it can kill you. | | | | delicate face, neck and hands. These |
| It still astounds me when I hear someone | | | | areas of the body should be shaded and |
| say; "I'm just working on getting a base | | | | covered as much as possible. No |
| tan" as if it is good for you! How did | | | | effective comprehensive skin protection |
| an entire generation flock toward the | | | | plan can be without hats, protective |
| beach with the belief that the sun was | | | | clothing, sunglasses and sunblock. |
| good for you and act as if tanning was | | | | Protection from solar radiation in fact |
| healthy, attractive and desirable? | | | | requires a plan and some realistic and |
| Circa 1960's- 70's Tanning culture rides | | | | rational thinking! Your skin health and |
| the wave | | | | perhaps your life depends on just how |
| Picture a sun-drenched California beach | | | | you decide to go about doing this. |
| with young muscle builders, beach babes | | | | Radiation is radiation... Radiation is |
| and surfer dudes. Back then, the "Ho | | | | cumulative |
| Daddy's" were actually the want to be | | | | If you are reading this and saying to |
| surfers that hung out on the beach, in | | | | yourself, well I have survived this long |
| hopes of cruising with the beach babes. | | | | without a problem-then I hope you will |
| The genuine surfers didn't care about | | | | consider the following for loved ones |
| all of the beach hubbub; after all they | | | | around you, and especially for your |
| really just wanted to catch the perfect | | | | children or grandchildren: |
| wave and hang ten. | | | | Sunburn in childhood is a key |
| No kidding-the tanning culture did not | | | | determining risk factor for the most |
| start in the U.S. until the 1960's. For | | | | dangerous type of skin cancer - |
| the countless hours they spent outdoors | | | | melanoma. The experts warn that just |
| in the sun, young people created the | | | | one blistering sunburn in childhood is |
| foundation for some extensive cumulative | | | | estimated to double the risk of getting |
| skin damage-radiation is real, it burns | | | | melanoma later in life. |
| skin tissue. Skin that is tanned is the | | | | I grew up with wonderful childhood |
| body's response mechanism to the | | | | sailing experiences on the Chesapeake |
| repeated injury to their skin. Pictures | | | | Bay. Unfortunately I experienced a |
| of Hollywood stars on Malibu and Santa | | | | blistering sunburn close to the age of |
| Monica beaches and poolside in Palm | | | | nine. Thirty years later, when Dr. |
| Springs and Las Vegas jump started the | | | | Greenway at Scripps Clinic took my |
| culture of tanning in this country. | | | | chronological childhood history of sun |
| And unfortunately many of them today | | | | exposure, he concluded that the |
| still continue to fuel the fire! | | | | radiation damage that contributed to my |
| Interesting flashback...if you watch an | | | | melanoma most likely occurred between |
| old period movie on the Turner Classic | | | | the ages of nine to fifteen years of |
| Movie channel you are likely to see | | | | age! |
| cowboys wearing long sleeved shirts, | | | | The Mayo Clinic's Leslie Christenson, |
| long pants and hats and gloves; while | | | | M.D. stated in her August 2005 study |
| western frontier women appear with long | | | | results; "Because non-melanoma skin |
| skirts, long sleeved shirts, gloves, big | | | | cancers generally occur in persons after |
| brimmed hats and parasols. As if! | | | | 50, very little attention has been paid |
| Not so long ago it really was all about | | | | to their incidence in younger adults and |
| taking cover from the sun and the | | | | children. We have discovered that these |
| elements. Well, I believe it is once | | | | cancers are becoming increasingly |
| again high time to take prudent cover | | | | prevalent in younger people, and if |
| and understand how to protect yourself | | | | steps are not taken at a young age to |
| and your loved ones every day of the | | | | prevent these cancers, we may see an |
| year from damaging solar radiation. | | | | exponential increase in the overall |
| Circa 2005 - The stakes are high | | | | occurrence of non-melanoma skin |
| We are paying a huge price for | | | | cancers." |
| continually damaging our skin | | | | The threat is real. Overexposure to |
| You are never too old or too young to | | | | radiation, ultraviolet light from the |
| suffer from the damaging effects of | | | | sun or indoor tanning is the greatest |
| solar radiation. Scientific studies | | | | risk for skin cancer. Excessive sun |
| recently found that having several | | | | exposure for the first 18 years of life |
| sunburns over the course of a lifetime | | | | increases the risk of melanoma. |
| can double or even triple melanoma risk, | | | | The clear message here is that we can |
| no matter when the sunburns occur. The | | | | take specific actions now to eliminate |
| fact is there are no safe ultraviolet | | | | sunburn in children and young adults. |
| (UV) rays or safe suntans. | | | | Those actions, taken now, can indeed |
| More than half of all new cancers in the | | | | help to prevent the epidemic of skin |
| USA are skin cancers. The sun is | | | | cancer incidence and death from skin |
| responsible for more than 90 percent of | | | | cancer should decrease! |
| all skin cancers. Precaution and early | | | | Early detection and diagnosis is |
| diagnosis could prevent 100,000 new | | | | critical to increase melanoma survival |
| cancer cases and 60,000 melanoma deaths | | | | Know the early warning signs of skin |
| in the U.S. each year! | | | | cancer |
| The Mayo Clinic revealed in August 2005 | | | | The three main forms of skin cancer are |
| that their studies have indicated that | | | | Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell |
| the incidence of two types of skin | | | | Carcinoma and Melanoma. Comprehensive |
| cancer has tripled in women under 40. | | | | skin awareness begins with knowing your |
| Skin cancers are increasing rapidly in | | | | body and skin! You know your skin |
| people over age 50 as well. Melanoma | | | | better than anyone else. Check your |
| skin cancer is rising at an alarming | | | | body thoroughly at least every three |
| rate. | | | | months. Look for any changes. Learn and |
| Melanoma is dangerous because it can be | | | | use the ABCD's as you examine your skin. |
| a horrifyingly swift and silent killer | | | | It is especially important to help your |
| if not detected at its earliest stages. | | | | loved ones, your spouse, partner and |
| There are many stories of heartbreak of | | | | especially children and young adults to |
| losing loved ones so early in their | | | | recognize changes in their skin. Early |
| lives to this type of cancer and leaving | | | | detection is critical to reducing deaths |
| a legacy of the importance of being | | | | due to melanoma! |
| vigilant and paying attention to the | | | | The early warning signs are commonly |
| skin's early warning signals. Early | | | | referred to as (the ABCD's): |
| diagnosis is in fact the best chance for | | | | - A- Asymmetry : one half of a mole does |
| excellent cure rates. My defining | | | | not match the other half. Common moles |
| moment....having had a melanoma changed | | | | are round and symmetrical. |
| everything | | | | - B- Border irregularity: skin cancer |
| I will always remember the day when my | | | | may have uneven or irregular borders; |
| husband, Bob, first noticed a | | | | the edges are ragged, notched or |
| strange-looking spot on my leg. It was | | | | blurred. |
| a glorious summer day in San Diego where | | | | - C- Color: mole is not uniform in |
| we lived aboard our boat, and I had just | | | | color; watch for varied colors that can |
| kicked back and propped up my feet when | | | | range in shades from brown, tan or black |
| Bob pointed to a small waxy spot on the | | | | and also red, white and blue |
| outside of my left leg near my ankle. | | | | - D- Diameter: if a spot is larger than |
| It caught me off guard because even when | | | | a pencil eraser (6mm or ¼ inch diameter |
| I shaved my legs I had not noticed this | | | | it could be trouble; melanomas are |
| funky spot! First it was in a tough | | | | usually larger than 6mm. |
| place to see it-I actually needed a | | | | To be sure use the following guide along |
| mirror to get a good look at it. | | | | with the ABCD's-Any changes in size, |
| Second, it was a pearly translucent | | | | color, shape or texture of a mole, new |
| white looking area, like a very thin | | | | mole, itching or bleeding, a change in |
| piece of hot wax had been dripped on my | | | | skin including a growth that increases |
| left ankle just above the ankle bone. | | | | in size, a spot that continues to scab, |
| At first glance it was not alarming and | | | | itch or bleed---see a clinical |
| only about the size of the tip of my | | | | practitioner/dermatologist immediately! |
| little finger (little then did I know | | | | We have created a cancer awareness card |
| how much size matters). We both agreed | | | | for your reference see below. |
| to keep a watchful eye on it. About 6 | | | | Solar Rx |
| weeks later Bob was alarmed when he saw | | | | Keys philosophy on Sun Protection to |
| that this "waxy" spot on my left ankle | | | | avoid melanoma and skin cancers: |
| turned bright red. I made several | | | | We believe in a comprehensive awareness |
| calls to friends in the medical | | | | program to avoid life-long solar |
| community who urged me to get an | | | | radiation damage that begins with the |
| emergency appointment to a | | | | simple statement: |
| dermatologist. At first I thought they | | | | The best way to prevent skin cancer and |
| were over-reacting, and then I recalled | | | | photoaging is to keep the harmful UV |
| the tone and urgency in their voices. | | | | rays from contacting and penetrating the |
| It had unnerved me and that spurred me | | | | skin. |
| into action. How lucky I was to be | | | | Photoaging, caused by the UV radiation, |
| referred into Dr. Hugh Greenway, a | | | | directly contributes to the wrinkles, |
| renowned dermatology specialist at | | | | skin blotchiness, redness and collagen |
| Scripps Clinic in San Diego. Dr. | | | | and tissue breakdown that show up in |
| Greenway is an internationally | | | | people as skin damage. Due to excessive |
| recognized expert in skin cancer surgery | | | | exposure to the sun and tanning devices, |
| and considered by peer review to be one | | | | many young adults are seeing the effects |
| the best doctors in America. Within two | | | | of this damage at an earlier age---in |
| weeks of discovering the red lesion, I | | | | their twenties! |
| had a skin biopsy and upon receiving the | | | | We believe it is prudent advice for all |
| dermatology report confirming melanoma, | | | | ages--stay out of the sun and limit time |
| I was advised to report for surgery | | | | spent in the sun. Avoid unnecessary sun |
| within five days. It all happened so | | | | exposure between 10:00am and 4:00 pm, |
| incredibly fast which served to | | | | when the solar UV rays are the |
| underscore the seriousness of this type | | | | strongest. Use sun avoidance protective |
| of cancer. | | | | measures rain or shine, all year-round. |
| After having successful Mohs | | | | We understand that complete sun |
| Microsurgery at Scripps Clinic, Dr. | | | | avoidance is not realistic so we offer |
| Greenway was adamant that the most | | | | the following four steps to make people |
| important thing I could do was to be | | | | aware of how they can protect their skin |
| vigilant about limiting the amount of | | | | and the skin of loved ones from the |
| time my skin was ever exposed to direct | | | | adverse affects of solar radiation: |
| sunlight, especially between the daytime | | | | Prepare for the time that you know you |
| hours of 10-4pm. He stressed how UV | | | | will be exposed to the sun. The best |
| radiation was now my arch enemy and how | | | | way is to think of it as creating and |
| important it was to wear sun protection | | | | using your own portable shading devices: |
| every single day---rain or shine. He | | | | Slip on a SPF 30+ long sleeved shirt and |
| instructed me to always wear a hat and | | | | long pants or long skirt |
| protective clothing when outside or when | | | | Slop on a SPF 30+ broad spectrum |
| exposed to the sun for long periods of | | | | Sunblock with Zinc Oxide |
| time, and to cover up while driving or | | | | Slap on a wide-brimmed SPF 30+ Hat with |
| even sitting for long periods of time | | | | a 4-5 inch brim |
| next to a bright sunny window. | | | | Shades for shielding the eyes-always |
| Beating rising skin cancer oddsdepends | | | | wear UV filtering sunglasses |
| on educating people of all ages against | | | | For more information on skin cancer |
| conventional thinking | | | | awareness, please see the following |
| Perhaps the greatest education I | | | | resources on our website: |
| received is that the use of sunscreen | | | | - Keys Slip, Slop, Slap, Shades and |
| does not mean that you can stay in the | | | | ABCDs of Melanoma Wallet Card is |
| sun as long as you like! Yes, really! | | | | available for download as a pdf file ato |
| I learned that anytime you spend time | | | | |
| outdoors you are risking solar radiation | | | | - Mayo Clinic, Research Findings |
| damage. Radiation is cumulative. The | | | | Reported to JAMA August 10, 2005; |
| hours of 10am-4pm remains the most | | | | - The Skin Cancer Foundation website |
| dangerous period to spend any extended | | | | - American Academy of Dermatology |
| time in the sun. Extended outdoor | | | | website |
| exposure during these hours should be | | | | Wendy Steele, Keys Soap Founder is a |
| avoided. Sunscreens in fact absorb or | | | | Melanoma Survivor. She is an Inner |
| scatter UV radiation and can still allow | | | | Circle member of the Skin Cancer |
| harmful UV rays to penetrate and damage | | | | Foundation. |