The importance of sunscreen and regular skin care

As summer begins in earnest, the weather will be heating up and we'll be getting more and more of the sun. If you work outdoors or just spend time in the fresh air, you will be spending time in the sunlight.

One thing you probably should put on your list is a good sunscreen. I have a problem with most sunscreens because of their greasy nature, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Sunscreens come in lotions, gels or sprays, and they are supposed to either block or reflect some of the harmful rays of the sun. The American Cancer Society recommends using sunscreen because it helps prevent skin cancer. Most sunscreens don't block UVA radiation, which can cause melanoma.

Sunscreens come in all levels of SPF or sun protection factors. These can range from 15, which is relatively low, to about 50. Honestly, I don't know which is the best to use, but since I'm fair skinned, I usually go with the higher numbers. Mom and Dad as well as my sisters and brother were all blond and blue-eyed, so we tend to burn pretty easily. Mom had a number of skin cancers removed as she got older.

Going shirtless may be cool, but be careful. Years of sun exposure seem to increase the likelihood of having problems as you age. Wearing a cap seems to be the in thing with the new flat-brim caps. But what caps leave exposed is your ears. It might be smart either to dab some sunscreen on your ears or wear some type of hat with a brim. I started wearing a mesh safari-type hat many years ago. It's probably not as cool looking as a cap, but it sure adds protection.

Also be careful about your hands, especially the backs of them. If you don't wear gloves, dab a little sunscreen on the back of each hand. Just a little care while you are young may add up big dividends as you age. A cousin of mine has had a number of skin cancers removed from his hands.

One person you really need to get to know is a specialist in skin care. Years ago I went to Saint Francis Medical Center and saw a specialist there. I had noticed some spots on my arms that I wondered about. He checked them out and decided to test some of them. Several came back as precancerous, so action was called for.

The doctor froze off some of the larger ones, which is virtually painless. He also prescribed a medication that I put on both of my arms from the back of my wrist to my elbow. I put this medication on daily for right at a month. Little by little, it took the top layer of my skin off and allowed new skin to grow back.

I now see Dr. Hal Brown in Cape. Dr. Brown, I believe, has done a really good job of taking care of me. He found several spots that were suspicious, with one of them needing immediate attention. He surgically removed this spot.

I guess what I'm saying is find a doctor who specializes in skin care, and go see him or her. There is a lot of attention given to getting a colonoscopy and mammogram on a regular basis, but hardly any given to getting a once-over for skin cancer. Make an appointment and get checked out. The doctor can determine how often you need to be checked.

There is a country-and-western song that has a punch line that goes something like, "I'd like to check you for ticks." This same thing is true of skin cancer as well. Check or have a friend check out your arms, your back, your feet and so on.

One of the worst sunburns I ever got was on my feet. When you go to the person who cuts your hair, have them check out your scalp. Make an appointment and go see the skin doctor. Prevention is the easiest. But treatment is relatively easy if caught early. Until next time.