Paying Attention to My Own Editorial

I recently wrote an article about skin blemishes and protecting oneself from the sun and skin cancer for one of our healthcare publications. The article prompted me to take a look at my own fair skin. Last summer, I spent a lot of time in the sun. I wear sunscreen every day, and reapply frequently when I’m outside, but I spent the summer canoeing, hiking, boating and swimming in the bright summer sun.

The sunshine must have caught up with me because I noticed a change in a small beauty mark on my face. A dark spot appeared where one had never appeared before. I ignored it for a while and covered it up with my hair, but after researching skin cancer for the article, I decided to practice the advice I wrote about and get my own skin checked by a doctor.

I wasn’t nervous until it came down to physically going to the doctor’s office, but he didn’t seem too concerned. He said it was best to remove it and get it tested right then and there. It was a quick procedure that lasted no longer than five minutes. The worst part was the shot in my head to numb the area, but I couldn’t feel a thing while he ridded me of the blemish. It’s healing now while I wait for my biopsy results, and it really has me thinking how important it is to protect our skin from the sun.

Now that I took the time to get checked, it won’t be so hard next time to get myself to the doctor’s office. I’ll keep wearing sunscreen and protecting myself best I can, and make sure I keep an eye out for any changes.

If you didn’t already know, May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so as we close out the month, here are some great tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation to protect your skin this summer and all throughout the year.

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreen should be used on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin, head-to-toe, every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

For more information about skin cancer, visit the Skin Cancer Foundation at: www.skincancer.org or the American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.org.