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!
If you've spent any time on social media lately, you may have seen headlines about…
Tailbone pain, medically known as coccydynia, can turn something as simple as sitting down into…
Abdominoplasty remains one of the most transformative procedures in aesthetic body surgery. While technical execution…
Brachioplasty has become an increasingly valuable procedure for patients who have experienced significant weight loss…
Facelift and neck lift surgery continue to evolve as surgeons refine techniques that prioritize natural…
From your iconic sayings to the laughs, you bring to the office every day, we…