Skin Cancer?? Me??

"ONE in FIVE Americans 

will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime"

{DISCLAIMER: This information is to HELP, not scare. I had a run in with skin cancer, researched some stuff, and wanted to share to make awareness! This post is for those who will appreciate the info. Read no further if you want to stay ignorant (Lacking knowledge or awareness in general) and in denial of skin cancer rising cases}

Also! Remember vitamin D (from the sun) is GOOD for you! All in moderation guys!

---------------------------------------

Im super late in posting this... but May is national skin cancer awareness month. This hits REALLY close to home with me, cuz skin cancer runs in my family.. And i had a little scare with it...

 Yup. Thats MY leg.

When i first noticed it.. i assumed it was just in ingrown hair or something. 

But as the time past, it never went away! Then i noticed it was growing.

It stopped growing so I ignored it for probably almost a year..

Then i finally decided to pull my head out of you know where, and realize that with my history of tanning, and my family history of skin cancer.. i better get it checked.

Walking into the dermatologist office, i had a lot going through my head. I told myself, if it WAS cancer, they just cut it off and im good right??
WRONG!

Well turns out its nothing to worry about and it doesnt need to be removed unless it starts getting bigger again.....

--------------------------------------------------

Im so glad that it turned out to be nothing, but i REALLY want to help spread awareness of how serious this epidemic is.

Skin cancer rates are growing MORE and MORE. Why is this?? Because girls are addicted to NEEDING that bronze, golden tan. Its all in the magazines.. its what we think we need. We think it makes us prettier, skinnier, no one was to be glowing white right?

And to achieve that.... we hit the tanning beds!

Dont deny it... we've all done it! Its the craze! We love to lay out! Its fun!

WELL STOP!

(PHOTO CREDIT)

Seriously girls, just drop it! Tanning beds are the new cigarettes! Once upon a time, everyone was doing it! Yea maybe there were health risks, but WHO CARES! Cancer wont happen to ME!

Well the rates grew and grew, awareness was made more and more known, and here we are! Smoking is like the plague now.... well tanning beds are next. BAN THEM!

Even if you're not worried about skin cancer... girls tanning, UV rays.. all that jazz... gives you WRINKLES and SUN SPOTS and ugly skin! It ages you SO much!

------------------------------------------------

PREVENTION!

• Avoid the sun between 10am-2pm: -This is when the sun’s rays are strongest, so if you can steer clear of the sun during these peak hours, do so! If you are outside during these times, be sure to wear sunscreen!

• DO NOT BURN! -A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any point in life.

• Wear UV protected sunglasses! -Many forget how harmful the sun can be on our eyes in conjunction to our skin. Be sure to wear sunglasses that defend against rays which can impair your eyesight. 

• AVOID ARTIFICIAL TANNING -Yes i am guilty of that as well as EVERY girl. The last time i used a tanning bed was in 2012.. Its never too late to stop! As much as you may like the way you look when you’re tan, it’s extremely harmful  to purposely make your skin this way. Never use tanning beds or any other simulated tanning device. These are just as bad as the actual sun.

• Always Wear Sunscreen! -Whether you’re on your way to the beach or the office, use SPF 15 or greater whenever stepping out into the sun. Look for a sunscreen which blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 1 ½ to 2 hours.

• Use UV protective Makeup and Chapstick! -We never think much about it but our FACE is in the sun the most! Winter, summer, ALWAYS exposed! And our face is what we want to keep the prettiest right?! Foundations and chapsticks can have UV protection! Sometimes girls worry about the "shine" with flash photography and UV foundation...but hello.. requiring a flash means its DARK and the sun is gone... so just wash it off and put on foundation without sunscreen at night! TA-DA!

• Keep Newborn Out of the Sun -Sunscreens may be used on babies over the age of six months, but they should also be protected by shade and clothing. Children are very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation— just one severe sunburn in childhood doubles the chances of developing melanoma later in life. It BREAKS my heart when i see parents not put sunscreen on their kids....

Keep in Check!

• Always check your body
• See dermatologist yearly!

And MOST importantly!! Remember... there is no discrimination to the COLOR of your skin! If you are naturally darker (whether is race or you just tan easily).. you STILL ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SKIN CANCER!!

-----------------------------

WITH ALL THIS BEING SAID....

You can STILL have a tan without the UV rays!!

Im going to post about self tanners! Ive been trying a product and i am in LOVE! 

I am tan, NOT ORANGE. I get compliments all the time... LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Stay tuned!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Google reader is donezo as of July 1st.

 Follow me on Bloglovin' so we dont get lost in the hiatus!

{information found HERE and HERE}