SPF: Your Lifeguard
Let’s talk about the lumpy, bumpy & brown in recognition of skin cancer awareness month!
Greetings beautiful people! Here’s a friendly reminder from your favorite facial spa that keeping an eye out for potential signs of skin cancer is no laughing matter. Let’s get in the know together regarding how to identify skin cancer, and let’s do beautiful skin confidently and safely!
Why should I be concerned about skin cancer?
𖤓 1 in 5 Americans develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
𖤓 Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US.
However! It is also the most preventable out of ** A L L ** types of cancers! {Stay tuned for tips, pretty please!}
𖤓 Unprotected skin can be damaged by UV rays in just 15 minutes.
Grabbing an amazon package from your driveway or sitting near a window adds up! And just because you’re inside, not in direct sunlight, or not visibly burning, doesn’t mean you’re protected. If there is daylight outside or inside, UV rays are present.
Here’s a quick mantra for remembering that both UVA and UVB rays are harmful!
UVB - UVBurn
UVA - UVAging
How do I spot a spot?
Being proactive with prevention of sun damage starts with understanding what we see. Let’s chat about the distinct features and red flags when identifying skin cancer! Irregular shape, lumpy texture, and dark color are all indicators of a spot needing some attention.
☀ Asymmetry ~ one side of the spot does not match the other.
☀ Border ~ the edges of the spot are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
☀ Color ~ color varies within the spot, and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, white or blue.
☀ Changes ~ the spot evolves in shape, size, or color overtime.
What can I do to lower my risk of skin cancer?
The arsenal of tools we have at our disposal to keep our skin supple and shiny goes beyond the ubiquitous sunblock bottle! Remember, the prevention of skin cancer is very much in our hands! Here are some simple steps you can take to safeguard your skin daily.
☼ Limit time in the sun!
UV rays play their best game between 10am and 4pm! Avoid their shenanigans by finding shade and limiting your time outdoors. Time to get creative with indoor adventures!
☼ Apply SPF! Apply SPF! Apply SPF!
Slather on that SPF 30+ physical or mineral sunscreen every 80 minutes for optimal sun protection! There’s a variety of products that make reapplication easier, such as SPF powder or sunscreen in a cream compact (Skinbetter has a wonderful one!) Remember, even when the sun is playing hide-and-seek behind clouds, or you retreated indoors,
those sneaky UV rays are still penetrating your skin through windows!
☼ Cover up!
Wide brimmed hats, sunglasses, sunshields (Bluestone is a great brand) and protective clothing are great options to cover your skin while in the sun! Certain clothing protects better than others due to the fabric used, some will even show the UPF rating right on the tag!
☼ No sun tanning or tanning beds!
Tanning beds emit 3 times more UV rays than the sun! Opt for a professional spray tan or a gradual tanning option at home! (PS ~ we have some amazing options to choose from here at Lumi!)
☼ Get checked!
Schedule yearly dermatology appointments to establish a relationship with a professional who can watch for those potential abnormalities. If you spot a spot, it’s time to schedule an appointment as soon as possible!
Ensuring a bright, healthy future for your skin is in very close reach for everyone- just as close as your SPF should be at all times! =]
(☀ᴗ☀) k u
References
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sun-protective-clothing/
https://metroderm.org/the-dangers-of-the-tanning-bed/
https://www.aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html