Can the Sun Kill You?
This month I thought I would revisit some advice I shared with you in 2012. Unfortunately, the sun can kill you. Some forms of skin cancer, particularly melanoma have become one of the top killers of young adults. Melanoma has been named a “condition of lifestyle.”
The sun provides us with Vitamin D and A and may give us a healthy glow but the dangers far outweigh the benefits. All of us are born with a skin type from one to six. One being the fairest, which burns easily and allows very little natural protection from the sun. If you are rated a six, your skin is dark brown/black with little chance of burning and more natural protection.
All are candidates for skin cancer but the lighter the skin and the more burns over your lifetime, the greater chance for these deadly cancers to show up.
What kind of cancer is the worst? Melanoma, which is cancer of the melanin cells, takes off in the bloodstream and can be deadly. The usual chemotherapy agents, while they work on other cancers, are not successful with melanoma so early diagnosis is critical and makes this cancer curable.
The serious question to ask yourself is how much sun exposure have I had over my lifetime, starting as a baby and how many bad burns (the ones we remember blisters or ice packs?)
This exposure does not include sun-tanning booths. Recent studies indicate that teens that use these tanning booths are creating a time bomb. In fact, most cancers, such as melanoma tend to be in highly exposed areas not protected by clothing.
So, what to do about it? Stay out of the sun and do not using tanning booths. If you are going to be in the sun, use sun block with a protection of 50 with titanium or zinc oxide and apply frequently with enough volume to cover the skin. Next, early detection of spots or lesions on the body is very important. Everyone needs a full body check at least once a year. Don't forget hidden areas such as the scalp and behind the ears.
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