When young people start to spread their wings, their quest for independence and adventure can sometimes put them at a high risk of danger. One unprotected day in the sun, for example (even if accidental), can multiply their odds of developing skin cancer.
April Franzino, beauty director for magazine brands Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and Prevention, shared her insights on how far we’ve come and how sun-protective behaviors continue to evolve.
Q: Recent reports show that male deaths due to skin cancer are increasing around the world. What do you think is going on, and how can we help men fare better?
For Witney Carson, the diagnosis came at the worst possible time — and on the worst possible spot for a dancer: her foot. Battling melanoma could have threatened her passion and even her life, but it only made her stronger.
A tanning bed will never provide you with the vitamin D that you need, nor is it safer than tanning outdoors. Not understanding the facts can literally mean the difference between life and death.
You need sun protection as much as you need vitamin D. You can have both, without skin damage or nutritional deficiency. A dermatologist tells you how.
Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen, which is why undesirable sunburns and tanning can occur despite sunscreen application.
I’m 15 and my mom tells me I should use sunscreen every day. But I have acne and I don’t want to put anything on my face that will make it worse. I feel like getting some sun will make my skin look better, so why should I do what she says?
Not only does shade give you a reprieve from the heat, but it can also help to protect you from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause skin damage and even lead to skin cancer.
Why do some people seem to be resistant to skin cancer, while many of us (who regularly visit SkinCancer.org) seem prone to it? Turns out there’s a gene that’s at least partially responsible, according to a 2016 study.
