Solar Flare - What you don't know can kill you!

Your skin is the first thing that people notice aboutchemical particles small enough to enter the
you-at every age! We often take it for granted. Thebloodstream. There are many experts who will tell you
fact is we rely on our skin health to protect us everythat a much better choice for topical protection is a
day of our lives, as the body's first defense from thesunblock compounded with zinc oxide, without
damaging effects of the environment.sensitizing chemicals. Zinc oxide reflects the UV rays
What you choose to do to your skin has everything toand is particularly effective for the most sensitive skin.
do with the skin results that you will get. Everyday,We use zinc oxide in our Solar Rx 30+ sunblock, to
people use soaps, scrubs, gels, toners, lotions, creams,provide more complete protection and coverage
skin lighteners, brighteners, faders-and the list goes on!without any chemicals to irritate the skin. As a
Most of these products contain chemicals that canmelanoma survivor I choose to avoid titanium dioxides
sensitize, irritate and even weaken the skin.as much as possible on my skin.
The absolute worst culprit for lifetime damage andI also learned that sunscreen alone will not prevent
irritation of the skin is the relentless everyday effectsaging of the skin-special attention needs to be paid to
of solar radiation. How much time you've spent on thethe delicate face, neck and hands. These areas of the
beach blanket or at the pool in your lifetime doesbody should be shaded and covered as much as
make a difference in how your skin looks today. In thepossible. No effective comprehensive skin protection
case of melanoma skin cancer, if not detected early itplan can be without hats, protective clothing,
can kill you.sunglasses and sunblock. Protection from solar
It still astounds me when I hear someone say; "I'm justradiation in fact requires a plan and some realistic and
working on getting a base tan" as if it is good for you!rational thinking! Your skin health and perhaps your life
How did an entire generation flock toward the beachdepends on just how you decide to go about doing
with the belief that the sun was good for you and actthis.
as if tanning was healthy, attractive and desirable?Radiation is radiation... Radiation is cumulative
Circa 1960's- 70's Tanning culture rides the waveIf you are reading this and saying to yourself, well I
Picture a sun-drenched California beach with younghave survived this long without a problem-then I hope
muscle builders, beach babes and surfer dudes. Backyou will consider the following for loved ones around
then, the "Ho Daddy's" were actually the want to beyou, and especially for your children or grandchildren:
surfers that hung out on the beach, in hopes of cruisingSunburn in childhood is a key determining risk factor for
with the beach babes. The genuine surfers didn't carethe most dangerous type of skin cancer - melanoma.
about all of the beach hubbub; after all they really justThe experts warn that just one blistering sunburn in
wanted to catch the perfect wave and hang ten.childhood is estimated to double the risk of getting
No kidding-the tanning culture did not start in the U.S.melanoma later in life.
until the 1960's. For the countless hours they spentI grew up with wonderful childhood sailing experiences
outdoors in the sun, young people created theon the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately I experienced a
foundation for some extensive cumulative skinblistering sunburn close to the age of nine. Thirty years
damage-radiation is real, it burns skin tissue. Skin that islater, when Dr. Greenway at Scripps Clinic took my
tanned is the body's response mechanism to thechronological childhood history of sun exposure, he
repeated injury to their skin. Pictures of Hollywoodconcluded that the radiation damage that contributed
stars on Malibu and Santa Monica beaches andto my melanoma most likely occurred between the
poolside in Palm Springs and Las Vegas jump startedages of nine to fifteen years of age!
the culture of tanning in this country. And unfortunatelyThe Mayo Clinic's Leslie Christenson, M.D. stated in her
many of them today still continue to fuel the fire!August 2005 study results; "Because non-melanoma
Interesting flashback...if you watch an old period movieskin cancers generally occur in persons after 50, very
on the Turner Classic Movie channel you are likely tolittle attention has been paid to their incidence in
see cowboys wearing long sleeved shirts, long pantsyounger adults and children. We have discovered that
and hats and gloves; while western frontier womenthese cancers are becoming increasingly prevalent in
appear with long skirts, long sleeved shirts, gloves, bigyounger people, and if steps are not taken at a young
brimmed hats and parasols. As if!age to prevent these cancers, we may see an
Not so long ago it really was all about taking coverexponential increase in the overall occurrence of
from the sun and the elements. Well, I believe it is oncenon-melanoma skin cancers."
again high time to take prudent cover and understandThe threat is real. Overexposure to radiation, ultraviolet
how to protect yourself and your loved ones everylight from the sun or indoor tanning is the greatest risk
day of the year from damaging solar radiation.for skin cancer. Excessive sun exposure for the first
Circa 2005 - The stakes are high18 years of life increases the risk of melanoma.
We are paying a huge price for continually damagingThe clear message here is that we can take specific
our skinactions now to eliminate sunburn in children and young
You are never too old or too young to suffer from theadults. Those actions, taken now, can indeed help to
damaging effects of solar radiation. Scientific studiesprevent the epidemic of skin cancer incidence and
recently found that having several sunburns over thedeath from skin cancer should decrease!
course of a lifetime can double or even tripleEarly detection and diagnosis is critical to increase
melanoma risk, no matter when the sunburns occur.melanoma survival
The fact is there are no safe ultraviolet (UV) rays orKnow the early warning signs of skin cancer
safe suntans.The three main forms of skin cancer are Basal Cell
More than half of all new cancers in the USA are skinCarcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma.
cancers. The sun is responsible for more than 90Comprehensive skin awareness begins with knowing
percent of all skin cancers. Precaution and earlyyour body and skin! You know your skin better than
diagnosis could prevent 100,000 new cancer casesanyone else. Check your body thoroughly at least
and 60,000 melanoma deaths in the U.S. each year!every three months. Look for any changes. Learn and
The Mayo Clinic revealed in August 2005 that theiruse the ABCD's as you examine your skin. It is
studies have indicated that the incidence of two typesespecially important to help your loved ones, your
of skin cancer has tripled in women under 40. Skinspouse, partner and especially children and young
cancers are increasing rapidly in people over age 50adults to recognize changes in their skin. Early
as well. Melanoma skin cancer is rising at an alarmingdetection is critical to reducing deaths due to
rate.melanoma!
Melanoma is dangerous because it can be aThe early warning signs are commonly referred to as
horrifyingly swift and silent killer if not detected at its(the ABCD's):
earliest stages. There are many stories of heartbreak- A- Asymmetry : one half of a mole does not match
of losing loved ones so early in their lives to this typethe other half. Common moles are round and
of cancer and leaving a legacy of the importance ofsymmetrical.
being vigilant and paying attention to the skin's early- B- Border irregularity: skin cancer may have uneven
warning signals. Early diagnosis is in fact the bestor irregular borders; the edges are ragged, notched or
chance for excellent cure rates. My definingblurred.
moment....having had a melanoma changed everything- C- Color: mole is not uniform in color; watch for
I will always remember the day when my husband,varied colors that can range in shades from brown, tan
Bob, first noticed a strange-looking spot on my leg. Itor black and also red, white and blue
was a glorious summer day in San Diego where we- D- Diameter: if a spot is larger than a pencil eraser
lived aboard our boat, and I had just kicked back and(6mm or ΒΌ inch diameter it could be trouble;
propped up my feet when Bob pointed to a smallmelanomas are usually larger than 6mm.
waxy spot on the outside of my left leg near myTo be sure use the following guide along with the
ankle. It caught me off guard because even when IABCD's-Any changes in size, color, shape or texture
shaved my legs I had not noticed this funky spot! Firstof a mole, new mole, itching or bleeding, a change in
it was in a tough place to see it-I actually needed askin including a growth that increases in size, a spot
mirror to get a good look at it. Second, it was a pearlythat continues to scab, itch or bleed---see a clinical
translucent white looking area, like a very thin piece ofpractitioner/dermatologist immediately!
hot wax had been dripped on my left ankle just aboveWe have created a cancer awareness card for your
the ankle bone. At first glance it was not alarming andreference see below.
only about the size of the tip of my little finger (littleSolar Rx
then did I know how much size matters). We bothKeys philosophy on Sun Protection to avoid melanoma
agreed to keep a watchful eye on it. About 6 weeksand skin cancers:
later Bob was alarmed when he saw that this "waxy"We believe in a comprehensive awareness program
spot on my left ankle turned bright red. I made severalto avoid life-long solar radiation damage that begins
calls to friends in the medical community who urgedwith the simple statement:
me to get an emergency appointment to aThe best way to prevent skin cancer and photoaging
dermatologist. At first I thought they wereis to keep the harmful UV rays from contacting and
over-reacting, and then I recalled the tone and urgencypenetrating the skin.
in their voices. It had unnerved me and that spurred mePhotoaging, caused by the UV radiation, directly
into action. How lucky I was to be referred into Dr.contributes to the wrinkles, skin blotchiness, redness
Hugh Greenway, a renowned dermatology specialistand collagen and tissue breakdown that show up in
at Scripps Clinic in San Diego. Dr. Greenway is anpeople as skin damage. Due to excessive exposure to
internationally recognized expert in skin cancer surgerythe sun and tanning devices, many young adults are
and considered by peer review to be one the bestseeing the effects of this damage at an earlier age---in
doctors in America. Within two weeks of discoveringtheir twenties!
the red lesion, I had a skin biopsy and upon receivingWe believe it is prudent advice for all ages--stay out
the dermatology report confirming melanoma, I wasof the sun and limit time spent in the sun. Avoid
advised to report for surgery within five days. It allunnecessary sun exposure between 10:00am and 4:00
happened so incredibly fast which served topm, when the solar UV rays are the strongest. Use
underscore the seriousness of this type of cancer.sun avoidance protective measures rain or shine, all
After having successful Mohs Microsurgery at Scrippsyear-round.
Clinic, Dr. Greenway was adamant that the mostWe understand that complete sun avoidance is not
important thing I could do was to be vigilant aboutrealistic so we offer the following four steps to make
limiting the amount of time my skin was ever exposedpeople aware of how they can protect their skin and
to direct sunlight, especially between the daytime hoursthe skin of loved ones from the adverse affects of
of 10-4pm. He stressed how UV radiation was nowsolar radiation:
my arch enemy and how important it was to wearPrepare for the time that you know you will be
sun protection every single day---rain or shine. Heexposed to the sun. The best way is to think of it as
instructed me to always wear a hat and protectivecreating and using your own portable shading devices:
clothing when outside or when exposed to the sun forSlip on a SPF 30+ long sleeved shirt and long pants or
long periods of time, and to cover up while driving orlong skirt
even sitting for long periods of time next to a brightSlop on a SPF 30+ broad spectrum Sunblock with
sunny window.Zinc Oxide
Beating rising skin cancer oddsdepends on educatingSlap on a wide-brimmed SPF 30+ Hat with a 4-5 inch
people of all ages against conventional thinkingbrim
Perhaps the greatest education I received is that theShades for shielding the eyes-always wear UV filtering
use of sunscreen does not mean that you can stay insunglasses
the sun as long as you like! Yes, really! I learned thatFor more information on skin cancer awareness,
anytime you spend time outdoors you are risking solarplease see the following resources on our website:
radiation damage. Radiation is cumulative. The hours of- Keys Slip, Slop, Slap, Shades and ABCDs of
10am-4pm remains the most dangerous period toMelanoma Wallet Card is available for download as a
spend any extended time in the sun. Extended outdoorpdf file ato
exposure during these hours should be avoided.- Mayo Clinic, Research Findings Reported to JAMA
Sunscreens in fact absorb or scatter UV radiation andAugust 10, 2005;
can still allow harmful UV rays to penetrate and- The Skin Cancer Foundation website
damage the skin.- American Academy of Dermatology website
There is controversy and concern about sunscreens.Wendy Steele, Keys Soap Founder is a Melanoma
Sunscreens containing benzophenones andSurvivor. She is an Inner Circle member of the Skin
cinnamates act to absorb UV rays before they enterCancer Foundation.
the skin. The concern is that sunscreens contain