Fun In The Carcinoma-Filled Sun
With summer quickly approaching, I am sure we are all looking forward to warm weather and fun in the sun. Well, the grim reaper of joy is back just in time to put a damper on this sunny season.
My last post drilled down the importance of sunlight when it comes to vitamin D. However, it’s not always sunshine and roses since the sun actually has some killer consequences if you are exposed to it too often and for long periods of time. This is why I consider the sun to be a double-edged sword.
To start off on an optimistic note, no one is safe from skin cancer. It can affect all types of skin at any age, even areas of the body that are never exposed to the sun.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and will affect 1 out of 5 people in their lifetime. Unfortunately, any amount of exposure to the sun can put you at risk for skin cancer. In fact, for fair-skinned individuals, UV radiation can cause damage within 5 to 10 minutes in the sun.
But there is good news! MOST skin cancer is treatable if caught early and with modern advances in science and medicine, less people are dying from it (which is the common stat I always search for on WebMD.)
There are three types of skin cancer to look out for: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
WARNING: please refrain from eating lunch during the next section as I will be showing images of each type.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
This is the most common form of skin cancer and the easiest to treat. It often resembles a flesh colored bump or red patch that is typically located on the head, neck or arms (but it can also be found anywhere on the body.)
2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
SCC typically presents itself as a firm red bump, scaly patch or a sore that doesn’t heal. Similar to BCC, SCC tends to appear on areas of the body that get a lot of sun exposure (chest, back, ear, face and arms.)
I warned you about the pictures.
3. Melanoma
The least common, yet deadliest, form of skin cancer is melanoma. The scary shit about melanoma is that it can appear ANYWHERE on the body in hard-to-see locations. This form of skin cancer is TYPICALLY brown or black in color (although it can occasionally be pink, red or white), larger than 6 mm in diameter, and has an irregular border. While melanoma is a very serious skin condition, it is often very treatable if caught early. If you have an abnormal mole that you are concerned about, the ABCDES of melanoma (linked here) is an easy at-home assessment you can do to ease your mind. But OBVIOUSLY visit your dermatologist if anything looks amiss.
While skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, there are certain risk factors that make you more susceptible to getting it.
1.Tanning Beds
If you were born before the 2000s, there is a 1 in 3 chance that you have used a tanning bed. I, embarrassingly, am guilty of doing so. I remember thinking I was the absolute shit after my first tanning session when I was 18, even though I burned to a crisp after my first go-around. Now, I compare tanning beds to a hotdog being cooked, except it’s your fucking body doing the cooking. Ew.
I am not one to judge (LOL), but if you are still using a tanning bed in 2022, what the fuck is wrong with you? Using a tanning bed is legitimately the worst thing you can do for your skin. In fact, ONE tanning session can increase your chance of getting melanoma by 20 fucking percent. While I will 100% agree with the fact that having a tan makes you 10 times more attractive, just go for the fucking spray tan next time. Your skin will thank you. Although, be sure you ask for the right shade and follow the directions to a tee…
2.Genetics
Sometimes, even when you do all you can to protect your skin, you can still end up with the big “C”. Individuals with freckles, blonde or red hair, or lighter skin have a greater chance of developing skin cancer- so thanks Mom and Dad for that. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with skin cancer, you are also at a greater risk. I’m not saying any of this to scare you (okay, maybe a little) or to turn you into a full-blown hypochondriac like me, but it is definitely something to be aware of and keep in check.
Now, if you don’t care about cancer (sounds crazy but I’ve known several people who don’t), I can bet you don’t want to look alligator-adjacent by the time you are 40. Unfortunately, the sun will age you faster than Obama’s second term in office. He is still a stone-cold fox, but let’s be real, his tenure didn’t make him look any younger.
There is a reason celebrities shield their skin from the sun and preach sunscreen use like it’s the gospel. Plain and simple, sun exposure can destroy your skin. The UV radiation from the sun literally causes your skin’s DNA to change which is scientifically linked to premature aging. The sun causes your skin to lose elasticity, which in turn, can make it leathery, thinned, and wrinkled. As a result of this, you might experience hyperpigmentation and melasma mustaches. Yes, you can actually develop a grayish-brown patch above the lip that resembles a mustache. I already hate waxing my upper lip. Who the fuck wants a sun-damaged goatee as well?
If all of this STILL doesn’t cause you to take a look inward and protect yourself from the sun, then you are a lost cause. However, if you want to keep your face as smooth as a newborn baby’s bum (I’ve always found that analogy creepy but I’m using it anyway), I have created a checklist to help protect you from the sun.
1. I CANNOT stress this enough- visit your dermatologist ANNUALLY for a full-body exam. I know how annoyingly difficult it is to get an appointment with your dermatologist. It’s honestly probably easier to meet the pope than it is to get a timely visit. However, if you make it a point to schedule the annual appointment at the time of your visit, you will be all set for the following year.
2. Cover up. I try to wear hats every time I go outside. Last summer, I bought the most obnoxiously large visor which not only covers my entire face, but it also protects my neck and chest. No one wants a gator neck, am I right?
If you exercise outside, choosing to wear a t-shirt over a tank top will give your shoulders, chest and back 100% coverage. If you are spending the day at the beach, sit under a fucking umbrella. Again, it’s not rocket science but it could save your life.
3. Wear sunscreen…obviously. Dermatologists recommend using an SPF of at least 30 since it blocks up to 97% of UVB rays. New research has shown that wearing anything over 50 SPF is practically useless. The FDA even called SPFs over 50 “inherently misleading”. So do with that what you will.
Even though a lot of makeup now contains SPF, it’s typically only around 15-20 SPF. While no sunscreen offers 100% protection from UV rays, reapplying sunscreen with an SPF between 30-50 every 2 hours will do a world of difference.
If you are anything like me, you must hate that oily feeling sunscreen leaves behind. You can almost feel your pores being clogged with each application. Well, after testing a ton of brands, I have found the sunscreen of Eden. Supergoop is my go-to daily sunscreen since it’s clear, light-weight and not obnoxiously fragrant. You can even put it on under your makeup and it doesn’t feel thick or pore-clogging at all. While it’s slightly on the pricier side, you only need a little bit and it’s vastly cheaper than having to get botox injections at 25.
There are so many easy, small things you can do that will have your skin thanking you for years to come. Even if you have porcelain skin now, routine exposure to the sun will do damage- there’s no getting around it. If you care at all about your health or your looks, be proactive and protect yourself NOW from that blazing plasma ball in the sky.
