SPF Saves Lives!

Ahhhhh, the Gods of summer have arrived! For me, summer's a time for righteous waves, warm sand and the sweet smell of Coppertone drifting through the air. Summer loves to flirt, and there is nothing I love more than the warm rays of the sun kissing my skin, tinting it a few beats darker than it was in Spring. As a teen growing up in New Jersey, summer was about driving down to Belmar shore and laying-out without a worry in the world. Those were the days of string bikinis and Johnson's baby oil, nothing more. I now live in South Florida where my shore is known as "the beach", and my skin protection has graduated to SPF 50, a big step forward from the basting oil I used to slather on my young skin back in the 80's. As a skin-care expert, I am acutely aware of long term skin damage, as well as the life threatening skin diseases caused by the sun's UVA/UVB rays. But it seems like no matter how many articles I write or blog posts I send out, the message hasn't transmitted to the sun worshipers of the world, so listen up!

WHATS SO SPECIAL ABOUT SKIN?

The skin is the largest organ of the human body; the LARGEST. The skin protects the body from pathogens which cause infection, it protects the body from bacteria, it assists in regulating our body temperature and it serves as our body's armor, protecting the internal organs from injury. The skin acts as a storage facility, safe guarding water and fat as needed, it produces vitamin D and it acts as a sensory vehicle (don't you just love to be caressed? Touch is an amazing sensation.). Skin also acts as a filter, assisting the body in excreting toxins. With all of these valid reasons to protect such a precious commodity, why is it that many of us place skin CARE on the back burner? Particularly skin care as it relates to sun protection.     

TRUST ME, YOU DON'T WANT CANCER

Cancer of the skin is by far the most common of all the cancers (yes, even more common than breast cancer); and Melanoma is the most dangerous of them all. Malignant Melanoma is the leading cause of death from ANY OTHER skin disease according to the American Cancer Society. Although it accounts for only 2% of skin cancer cases, it's responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths in this country. There are two categories which distinguish skin caner: "Non-Melanoma" and "Melanoma". Basel cell and Squamous cell carcinoma would be classified under Non-Melanoma and Malignant Melanoma is the latter. 

BASEL CELL CARCINOMA

Non-Melanoma skin cancer is either Basal Cell or Squamous Cell. These two types are the most common form of skin cancers, with over 2,000,000 cases diagnosed in this country each year. 

Basel cell carcinoma develops in the lower epidermis, where round cells known as "basel cells" reside; 80% of skin cancer develops from the basel cells. Basel cell carcinoma is most often found on the forehead and neck region of the body (areas most vulnerable to the sun), but is not limited to these regions. It typically grows slowly and rarely metastasizes, but don't let that put you at ease. Although treatable to an extent, it usually requires surgical removal of the affected area resulting in scar tissue or a skin ulcer in most cases. 

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

The "squamous cells" are flat and scale-like, as opposed to the round basel cells. Squamous cells are where 20% of skin cancer develops and is primarily caused by sun exposure. The areas of the body which have mucus membranes are most vulnerable to this type of cancer, such as the mouth-skin and the nose. However, I have personally seen a wicked case of squamous cell carcinoma on the hands. Like basel cell, this type of cancer rarely metastasizes, however it is more likely to spread than basel. Non-melanomas (basel and squamous) can sometimes be treated with medicated doctor-prescribed creams, cryosurgery (which involves the actual freezing of the affected tissue) or even laser surgery. There are a few other types of rare, non-melanoma skin cancer, however, for the purpose of this article my focus is on the more common basel and squamous cell carcinomas.

MELANOMA

Melanoma, on the other hand, is the more serious type of skin cancer and this year it will invade the lives of about 76,000 people in our country, according to the American Cancer Society. It affects approximately 5% of people diagnosed with skin cancer, but is attributed to over 75% of all skin cancer-related deaths; 75 percent! Melanoma begins in the melanocytes which are, ironically, the cells which produce melanin. Why so ironic? Because it is the job of melanin to protect our skin from the sun, dispersing pigment onto the surface of the skin (AKA: a suntan). A suntan is actually an injury-response to sun exposure, in an effort to protect the skin from the sun's radiation. 

The majority of melanoma (as well as non-melanoma) cases in this country could have been avoided with simple act of applying sun protection. A broad spectrum SPF (minimum 30) that is 

RE-APPLIED throughout the day will protect your vulnerable skin from harmful radiation. If I can give any advice about skin-care in my realm of expertise, my message would emphatically be to PROTECT your precious skin with a BROAD SPECTRUM SPF (applied daily) and visit your dermatologist once per year for a thorough skin screening, especially if you notice any abnormal marks or legions on your skin. 

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY WANTS YOU TO KNOW THE RISKS:

Risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include:

• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation: sunlight, tanning booths and lamps.
• Pale skin (easily sunburned, does not tan much or at all, natural red or blond hair)
• Workplace exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
• You or other members of your family have had skin cancers
• Multiple or unusual moles
• Severe sunburns in the past

MORE FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY:

Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor:

• Any change on your skin, especially in the size or color of a mole, growth, or spot, or a new growth (even if it has no color)
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or a change in the way a bump or nodule looks
• A sore that doesn’t heal
• The spread of pigmentation (color) beyond its border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
• A change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain

Rose's Skin Health-Tip: Don't neglect seemingly insignificant areas like between the toes, the ears or the backs of your knees. Inconspicuous areas like these are the first to show signs of skin damage that may result in cancerous cells. So take the time and spray, spritz, slick or slather on a quality paraben-free SPF on a daily basis. It may be the difference between a good skin day and a bad one.

--CIAO for now  xo

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