Have you been getting outside to enjoy the sunshine (with sunscreen, of course)?
If you have been following along, you might know I live in the tropical state of Iowa. We relish when the sun and warm comes for the few months of Spring and Summer. When the first day of 50+ degrees hit, you will see many people in shorts and flip flops like we just arrived at our spring break hotel destination. Thank goodness COVID-19 hit towards the end of winter and people are able to get outside. However our tanning salons have been closed and Iowans are in withdrawal. Until last Friday and they were allowed to open up. I went for a walk in my neighborhood and passed by the one right by my house, it was packed.
It made me sad because less than 2 months ago, I lost a friend to melanoma. She was young, beautiful and one of the most caring, kindest people I have met. It started with a small spot on her leg 2 years ago, she started treatment and took over her body at the beginning of this year.
Skin cancer is no joke #SharetheFacts
The 2 Main Causes of Skin Cancer are the UV rays from the sun and the use of UV tanning beds.
2 people die form skin cancer every hour.
1 in every 5 Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime.
5 million people are diagnosed in the United States each year, making it the most common cancer in America.
May is skin cancer awareness month and I always get on my soap box because I have known too many people, including myself, get diagnosed with skin cancer. Please take this seriously. It can affect you if you don't protect yourself and wear sunscreen, if you go to a tanning bed and if you have had multiple sunburns. It can affect you BECAUSE YOU HAVE SKIN.
Check yourself all the time and look at all the moles on your body, even between your toes and fingers, your scalp, in and outside your ears, on your bottom (including the crack) and private body parts. Even though the sun hasn't seen those places much, it can still occur there. Go to The Big See for tips and tricks on checking your body out.
Then head to your favorite Dermatologist once a year for a skin check. Don't have one, find one here.
And wear sunscreen. Every. Damn. Day (and reapply, once doesn't cut it when you're in the sun). It doesn't matter if it is cloudy, winter, you're not going to leave your house or you're covered in a tarp. This is my favorite for face, ears and neck and this one for body.
Thank you for listening to my TED talk on skin cancer and being the sunshine instead of baking in the sunshine. This one is for you Y, love you more.
#embracethehellyeah
~AE
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