With so much in the news these days about skin cancer, what does it all mean?
While the sky isn’t falling in quite yet, there are major concerns about how the sunlight is affecting our skin and causing increasing numbers of serious and potentially fatal skin cancers. On the other hand, we also read about how we’re not getting enough sunlight and we’re becoming Vitamin D deficient.
Moderation is absolutely the key in most things. By taking in bits of sunshine to satisfy our vitamin D needs, we’re not usually exposing ourselves to enough sunlight to have to worry about melanoma (skin …read more

Doctors and researchers have been noticing a decline in vitamin D levels in children for a while now but the problem is getting worse. With the increasingly sedentary and inside-the-home lifestyle of many American children, and the high use of sun block for those who do go outside, many just aren’t getting sufficient levels of vitamin D from the best source, the sun.
Although we know it’s important to protect our skin from the sun to reduce the risk of skin cancer, as with everything, moderation and common sense needs to take hold. Unless their skin is very fragile, five to …read more

Although people who love to use tanning beds and the beds’ businesses will say otherwise, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the medical community fears the effects of the tanning beds and booths.
They have sounded warnings in the past about the use of tanning beds and booths, but they are still popular among many, particularly the younger adults and teens. The tanning done by this method allows strong ultraviolet rays to hit the skin and cause damage. This damage has a high chance of developing into skin cancer years down the road.
Researchers looked at 20 different studies and, using those study …read more

Skin cancer is on the rise in general, but it’s especially a problem for minorities. One CNN report says that “many people of color often mistakenly believe skin cancer is not something they should be worried about.” However, dermatologists across the country have seen an increase in the amount of skin cancer rates in minorities.

It’s not that darker skinned people don’t have some protection from the sun’s rays. Studies have estimated that “for the darkest skin tones, pigmentation cells provide a natural sun protection factor, or SPF, of about 13.” As we’ve learned, however, 13 sun …read more

This morning, I read a very sad story about Kelly Thompson. She’s only a 10-year-old little girl but suffered burns over 70% of her body after using….brace yourselves parents this may shock you….a tanning bed. She was actually in a tanning bed for 16 minutes, unsupervised. The BCC is reporting that there was no one staffed there when she entered.
“She was under-age but there was no staff there to stop her from using it. And there was no-one to give advice on using these potentially dangerous machines.”
This was one very lucky girl, even if she did get burned. Doctors said …read more

Malignant melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – is now the most common cancer for women in their 20s in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, almost each day of the year, a UK woman between 20 and 29 is diagnosed with the deadly cancer. For women in their 30s, malignant melanoma has risen to be the third most common cancer.
The rise in melanoma is being attributed to binge tanning during holidays and the increasing use of tanning beds or sunbeds. SunSmart Caroline Cerny, manager for Cancer Research UK’s campaign, advises:
“Spending time on sunbeds is just …read more

Republican party presidential candidate John McCain is a survivor of melanoma –  a deadly form of skin cancer.
Earlier this week, a spot in his right cheek was removed as part of a routine check-up. Following biopsy results have showed that McCain is cancer-free.
Presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain, who has a history of dangerous melanomas, had a spot of skin removed from his face today, his campaign said.
The patch of skin was removed from McCain’s right cheek during a routine checkup in Arizona, the candidate said. In 2000, an invasive melanoma was removed from the senator’s left temple.
McCain denied there …read more

What kind of lip balms or glosses do you use? You may want to stay away from the shiny ones as they may attract ultraviolet rays (UV rays of the sun) and thereby increase the rtisk of skin cancer.
Such were the findings of Dr. Christine Brown, a dermatologist at at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Lips are more susceptible than skin to aging from chronic sun damage and also more prone to developing serious cancers.
“When skin cancer occurs on the lower lip, it has the potential to be much more aggressive and metastasize to surrounding lymph nodes,” Brown said …read more

After removal of several cancerous moles (one right under his right eye), Ewan McGregor is reportedly fine.
“I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed, and indeed he was correct,” he said.
McGregor, who is promoting the erotic thriller Deception, insisted the surgery was “not that big of a deal”.
The star admitted he was aware that having pale skin and spending time in the sun meant he was more at risk, and it “was best to be looked at” by doctors.
When asked if he found the experience frightening he said, sarcastically: “It was great fun having …read more

Anderson Cooper recently had a skin cancer scare. Yup. That Anderson Cooper!
U.S. television journalist Anderson Cooper reveals on his Web site that he had a “small spot” of skin cancer removed from his face this week.
“I’ve been off for the last couple of days,” the CNN news presenter wrote on his blog Wednesday morning.
“I had minor surgery on Monday. A small spot of skin cancer was removed from under my left eye. I hadn’t planned on mentioning this but I still have stitches and you’ll no doubt notice them tonight,” he explained. “Don’t want you to think I got into …read more