I admit to just a touch of that summer tan because I think I look more vibrant. At the very least, the freckles sort of blend together and I don’t look so blotchy. But I am careful about sun exposure and it paid off this week.

I went to the dermatologist (skin doctor) for my semi annual body skin check and lucked out with only 4 burning off of possible precancerous growths. She applies liquid nitrogen to the lesions which are usually benign. Even so the higher possible risk of becoming squamous cell carcinoma is there if left untreated so my dermatologist burns them off.

My husband, who happened to have an appointment that same morning, was not so lucky. The dermatologist  used the liquid a couple of times and then took 4 biopsies off his face. They’re sent to a lab and in a few days we will get the results. Whatever the outcome I know it will be caught early because he gets checked out more than twice a year and we’ll treat it with whatever surgical procedure is required.

The problem is, however, that it is summer and few people are as conscientious about exposing ourselves to the sun as we are. That means more time is spent exposing the skin to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun, the major cause of skin damage and cancer.

Our daughters lather sunscreen on their children before they play outdoors or go swimming. I haven’t seen either of them put any cream on themselves. I’m even to the point of wearing sun protection clothing and for sure long sleeves and full length trousers in the sun, even when I’m playing golf. The protection is working.

However, the concept of protecting yourself from the sun isn’t working for most Americans even thought the market for sun screen products is huge. Even though tanning yourself is good for my doctor’s practice because that’s what she mainly deals with – the damage done to your skin from the sun, I can appreciate her frustration when some of her patients are tan all year round because they visit tanning booth.

Obviously, the concept that a tan is equated with good health is stuck in our cultural thinking. Last Tuesday, Jane Brody wrote a piece in The New York Times that tanning is addictive. She even wrote about one Canadian who said he traveled all over the world to maintain a tan throughout the year.

More in my next post. In the meantime, send me any questions you have about tanning.  I will find your answers or let you know where to go.

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

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