An Ounce of Prevention

This latest blog I’m dedicating to my cousin, who at the young age of 36 yrs, was just diagnosed with stage four melanoma cancer. My cousin is fair skinned and blue eyed and loved to be outside and snowboard.

I’ve already talked about smoking – on a vanity level. So let’s talk about the sun and our obsession with a “healthy glow” .Historically tan skin has  been in and out of fashion. For the last 5000 years, a tanned person meant low-class because they were outside laborers- think "farmer tan". Upper class ladies went to great lengths to keep fair skin; lead paint, arsenic, and layers and layers of clothing.

Since the industrial revolution, the lower-class suddenly went inside to the factories. The tables turned and only the very rich were able to have the luxury of time. Time to lay about outside, time to go on exotic and expensive vacations in the tropical south.

Fast forward a few decades to now; where we still long for the tan look and not caring about the consequences- just watch an episode of Jersey Shore and watch them obsess about their darker-the-better mentality. Listen to popular music on the ipod advocating not caring about the future, just about having fun “…and all that counts is here and now, “ I’m glad you came, The Wanted   

So what happens when you don’t care about the future , and just caring about looking good and having fun? Science shows us that:

·        One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than double a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life.²⁴

·        A person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns at any age.²⁵
http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts#treatment

And if science doesn’t do it for you- Take a look at these ladies:

Pam shows signs of her years of topless bathing, Lindsay is only in her twenties , but her fair skin just can't take it. 

So what should we do- we all know what to do, slather up in sunscreen. But after a little research, it’s a little more complicated than I realized. I can sum up new research in a few bullet points:

• -         You need 30+ SPF 30  min before you go outside- not 15 minutes like we've been told
• -        You need to pay attention to both UV and UA rays.
• -        There is no such thing as sweat proof or water proof, it just stays on a little longer.
• -        You need to reapply every 2 hours in full sun, and after going in the water.
• -        Moderate exposure in sunlight (with protection) is good for you.
• -        You can still get UV/UA rays on a chilly, cloudy days, so just suck it up and put it on anyway!
• -        You need to put on enough sunblock to fill a shot glass.
• -        70% of people do not put enough sun-block on.

What do I use?

I got the Olay Regenerist 30spf  for $18.00- at Costco

Cheap, effective, preventative.

Happy face-saving, and life-saving,!