“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird
― Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird
***WARNING SOME PICTURES MAY BE GRAPHIC*** We go hard when it comes to SPF sunscreen. SPF110 or higher...nothing lower!! It's the first day of July and you know what that means...the sun is brighter, the days are longer, the temperatures are hotter, and you want to enjoy the pool even more. While enjoying the sun can be fun, if you are not careful, you could be setting yourself up for weekly visits to the doctor, constant surgeries and scars to remind you of your fun in the sun! What are we talking about? Melanoma. What exactly is Melanoma? mel•a•no•ma - a tumor of melanin-forming cells, typically a malignant tumor associated with skin cancer. Currently it's the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. Melanomas can appear anywhere on the body. Fascinating Fact: Bob Marley was diagnosed with melanoma under one of his toenails in July 1977. He reportedly ignored advice to amputate the toe and the cancer spread to his lungs and brain. He died in May 1981 at age 36. Now you're probably wondering why we wanted to blog about melanoma. No, it's not because either one of us has melanoma. No, it's not to bore you and it's not to keep you from enjoying the sun. We're blogging today about melanoma because we want to educate you on what you can do to hopefully prevent yourself from getting it. How do you prevent yourself from getting melanoma? Use sunscreen every time you are outside. We buy 110 SPF sunscreen which is probably overkill but you need to make sunscreen a habit. It's not a joke. Let me be first the first to say I use to live by the saying, "I have tan skin. I never get sunburned." Little did I know that every time I went outside (especially to Fort Mountain) that there was a possibility that I could be setting myself up for future weekly doctor visits. My mom use to always tell me to put sunscreen on but I never did...she always did but I just laughed and made fun of her. Then one day about a month ago, she asked me to watch this video. Since I watched this video, every time I go outside, it crosses my mind to put sunscreen on. Now do I? Not yet because it takes a while to break a habit of never doing so. Since I saw this video I have vowed to myself that I would make sure everyone I know and care about sees it and knows the dangers of melanoma. This story was exceptionally moving. When I read this, "Last year alone, she averaged two doctor’s appointments a week, getting her skin checked from head to toe and having an additional 12 biopsies for moles and freckles on her face, breasts, legs, armpits, arms and the sides of her torso" (thankfully, they were all noncancerous). “It’s exhausting, not to mention painful, to have all these biopsies,” Kate says. “But it’s a matter of life and death.” puhnuch bahy•op•see A punch biopsy is done with a circular blade ranging in size from 1 mm to 8 mm. The blade, which is attached to a pencil-like handle, is rotated down through the epidermis and dermis, and into the subcutaneous fat, producing a cylindrical core of tissue. Fascinating Fact: When it comes to sun screen lower SPFs can be better because larger SPFs create a false sense of security. For example using an SPF 15 sunscreen can be more protective than an SPF 100+ when applied correctly. Using too little or not reapplying often enough, due to the illusion of "extra protection", can prevent the true protection of the sunscreen. When I started doing more research, I saw the pictures and posters that other countries were using to show awareness. Just like the drug photos that scared me when I was little, these posters have convinced me to cover my skin, wear sun screen, and if I did go to the tanning bed, to go a little less often. Fascinating Fact: If you've had one bad sunburn by the age of 18, you've doubled your chances of getting melanoma. At a volunteer event, I rode with a friend to the place the event was being held. When we got out and started to head over, someone asked the group if they had some sunscreen and my friend said yeah we do. She proceeded to tell us how she and her dad put sunscreen on their arms before they start driving. I remember thinking that was smart but thinking I would never do that because I'm tan and never get burned. Rethinking this conversation, I'm now wanting to put a tube of sunscreen in Big Bertha (we gave my mom's purse a name because it's so big and bulky) to use whenever we are driving and especially when we go on road trips . Not only could the driver get a lot of sun but so could the passenger. Ways To Prevent Skin Cancer (***Not all melanomas can be prevented, but there are things you can do that could reduce your risk of getting melanoma and other skin cancers.***) 1. Wear SPF everyday. Even after summer is over continue to wear your sunscreen. Use at least 15 SPF and choose a "broad spectrum" sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA radiation. You should apply 2tbsp. thirty minutes before you head outside and continue to apply every two hours. Doctors suggest using an SPF between 30 and 70. 2. When conducting yard work or construction work, wear long sleeves and hats. 3. Stay in the shade when at all possible, especially during the hours of 10AM-4PM. This is the cheapest and easiest way to prevent any type of skin care. 4. Though a nice glow is nice to have, remember tanning beds can cause skin cancer. Remember those days that the paler you were the richer you were? Well what if the new mantra is the paler you are the smarter you are! 5. Wear sunglasses whenever you go outside. You eyes can contract skin cancer as well. Wraparound sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of the sun's UV rays are the best because they shield both eyes and the surrounding skin. 6. Check yourself monthly using a hand mirror and a full-length mirror. Ask a partner to check your posterior. Look for anything out of the ordinary. 7. Have a skin cancer screening at least once a year. Ask your doctor to take photos of atypical moles so that y'all can track them. The American Cancer Society’s awareness campaign for skin cancer prevention promotes the following slogan: “Slip! Slop! Slap!®… and Wrap” Slip on a shirt. Slop on sunscreen. Slap on a hat. Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them. Fascinating Fact: Tanning beds are not healthier than sitting in the sun. Actually, the UVA radiation used in tanning beds is three times the amount of harmful radiation emitted by the sun, therefore more dangerous. So remember, before you start heading out to the lake, hitting the pool, BBQing, or watching the parade this Fourth of July weekend, Slip, Slop, Slap...and Wrap! Pack that 110 SPF in your Big Bertha and buy the cutest floppy hat you can find because what doesn't kill you will leave a scar. Share this to your friends and let them know the dangers of a bright bright sun shiny day. Have a safe and shady Forth of July XOXO, The Gearles P.s.- Curious to see what you look like to the sun? Check this video out to see how sunscreen and sunglasses really can save you. Plus it has really cool music.
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Abby & AndreaA college student trying to figure out the world with her mom by herside. Life through my lens (Abby). We all have different stories and these are only some of mine. Some funny, some adventurous, some hard. Sit back and relax. Enjoy. Archives
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