Summertime Skin Care

The subject of sunburns, sunscreen and skin care hits home for me. In the last year I was diagnosed twice with skin cancer, melanoma to be specific. On my back, right over my shoulder blade and on my right calf.

Let me back up. I am of mostly German descent and have pale skin with freckles... everywhere. Through out high school and college I thought I was immune to the sun and the UVA and UVB rays (I'll explain the difference later). It was insane because I used to use the tanning oil or a maximum of SPF eight. Yes, I said eight. I paid for it when I went to my annual dermatologist check-up and he found an irregular mole on my back. The mole had been there ever since I could remember, but the biopsy came back and it was melanoma.

I, a 23-year-old have skin cancer?? How is that possible? After the paniced thoughts set in, I scheduled my removal appointment. Now I have a needle-phobia and this would most definitely include needles. Try 34 different pokes. They had to numb my back in order to cut a diamond-shape around the area. The doctor explained that melanoma does not necessarily spread through the skin, but tends to jump around so they recommended cutting 3 mm. out each way to form a diamond, then sew it up. The bizarre thing is my mother had the same mole in the same spot, got it biopsied and it was pre-cancer which means I, 3o years her junior had cancer and she didn't. She used to bake in the sun with baby oil!

Needless to say it's over and I thought NEVER AGAIN. Until there was an again. Second surgery was on my calf and they had to perform the same procedure.

Now, after learning the hard way I am a huge advocate for protecting your skin. Every day I use face moisturizer with SPF 15. If I plan to be in the sun for longer than 15 minutes, I lather myself in SPF 45 or more. I am now protecting myself from the UVA and UVB rays. UVA is the type that causes skin cancer. This type of sun ray will NOT burn your skin. It penetrates deep to release the free radicals on your skin tissue and collagen. UVB causes sun burns and eventual wrinkles. Either way the amount of melanin in your skin determines if you can fight the bad rays or like me, are harmed extensively by them.

Sun isn't the only way to kill your skin cells. Tanning beds are a major culprit. This article discusses the harmful effects of the beds. A recent study about melanoma was conducted finding interesting results: the mutation of certain genes as a result from prolonged sun exposure can cause melanoma.

If you do not care about the risk of cancer (which everyone is at risk) then ladies, think about all the plastic surgery you will need in the future from laying out in the sun. Botox, chemical peels and even face lifts may be a necessary option to remove the wrinkles given to you by the sun.

So please remember to wear your SPF 30 or more this summer at the beach, on a walk outside or even playing in the pool. Your skin will thank you.