TANNING…Olympic Sport? What You REALLY Should Know…

TANNING

OK, fellow Californians…most of us are sun-lovers – especially those of us that live here in Sunny Los Angeles. Who doesn’t like a deep, golden tan? Beautifully sun-kissed, bronzed skin, maximally exposed in tiny bikinis and muscle-clad board shorts.

Recently, one of my close friends had a brush with mortality. And it scared both of us – my business partner and I as the surgeons, and my friend as the random victim. Skin cancer is here to stay…and we have to be prepared.  Here are a few quick facts that I think we should be aware of:

In the Entertainment capital of the world, we strive to maintain our youth!!

#1 FACT: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually

#2 FACT: One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime

#3 FACT: Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have either skin cancer (Basal Cell or Squamous Cell) at least once

#4 FACT: One person dies of melanoma every hour (every 62 minutes)

#5 FACT: Those who make just four visits to a tanning salon per year can increase their risk for melanoma by 11 percent, and their risk for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by 15 percent

#6 FACT: Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun

#7 FACT: SUN CAUSES IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE SKIN, AGING US TWICE AS FAST AS THOSE WHO USE SUNSCREEN

#8 FACT: Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18

The Moral of the Story Is…

WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!!!

An effective sunscreen contains both a chemical sunblock (SPF of 30 or greater) and a mechanical block (Zinc Oxide/Titanium Dioxide). You can get several products at any Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid. Physician-grade formulas are available at most Dermatologist and Plastic Surgeon’s offices.

Visit us at the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group for select brands of effective, physician-grade sunscreens! Call today at 310-275-6600 for a consultation!