What to look for: The ABCDEs of Melanoma Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers with Melanoma being less than 5%, yet it causes the majority of all skin cancer deaths.
- The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 76,690 new melanomas diagnosed in 2013 (45,060 in men and 31,630 in women).
- It is estimated that about 9,480 of those diagnosed will die from melanoma. (About 6,280 men and 3200 women).
- Melanoma is more than 20 times more common in whites than in African Americans and the rates increase with age although now it is being seen in young adults younger than 30, especially females.
- You need to protect your skin from being overexposed and learn to recognize changes in moles or pigmentation.
- According to dermatologist, Laura Ferris, you should not rely on phone apps to correctly identify melanomas since they are incorrect 30% of the time. This is also published in JAMA Dermatology online.
B = Border – An irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border.
C = Color – Is varied from one area to another; has shades of tan, brown or black, or is sometimes white, red, or blue.
D = Diameter – Melanomas usually greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
E = Evolving – A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.
Sensitive Skin
Often people describe their skin as changing from day to day and that it reacts to many things. Some describe their sensitive skin as being dry and delicate all of the time. The truth is all skin is sensitive in varying ways and signs of this can differ from mild, transient tingling, with redness and dryness.
There are things that you can do to prevent reactions once you understand what your skin reacts to.
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KEEP IT CLEAN |
HYDRATION |
WEAR SUNSCREEN |
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| Cleanse you face twice a day | Use a light, water-based moisturizer. Apply 3 times a day. | Use sunscreen daily | |
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Apply in the direction of the hair growth. |
Do a patch test before using new products on a small area of skin.
Introduce new products one at a time to check for any adverse reactions. Take your makeup off before bed as sensitive skin is extremely vulnerable to irritation.
Try to keep from touching your face often. If your skin itches often use a tissue or a cleansing wipe so that you don’t transfer dirt, oil and other irritants.
Keep a complexion friendly environment. Use a humidifier and drink one to two liters of water per day.
Sandi’s At-Home Skin Care Recipes
Facial exfoliators, masks, scrubs and cleansers to brighten your face made in your kitchen.
Cinnamon Cleanser
◊ ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
◊ 2 teaspoons of powdered milk
◊1 tablespoon freshly brewed chamomile tea
◊ ¼ teaspoon of organic honey
Mix in a glass bowl to make a soft paste. Gently massage on wet skin. Leave on for 2-3 minutes then rinse and dry your face.
The lactic acid from the milk exfoliates; chamomile soothes and cinnamon stimulates the skin.
Tomato Exfoliator
◊1 large tomato
◊ 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
◊ ½ teaspoon of honey
Chop the tomato then mix in the sugar and honey. Gently massage the mixture on your face. Leave on for 5 minutes, rinse and dry your face.
The Lycopene in the tomato acts as a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals; brown sugar is a great exfoliator.
Citrus Mask
◊ 1 egg white
◊ 1 teaspoon of grapefruit juice
◊ 1 teaspoon lemon juice
◊ 2 teaspoons of sour cream (not fat-free)
Beat egg white in a glass bowl until fluffy. Mix the sour cream with the grapefruit and lemon juices. Add the mixture to the egg white and then apply on a clean face. Leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
Lemon and grapefruit are rich in citric acid and AHA, a natural exfoliator and a powerful antioxidant. They both promote smoother, brighter looking skin. This is a ideal mask for oily skin.
Blackhead Eraser
Before cleansing add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of hot, steamy water. Close your eyes and hold your face over the bowl for 5 minutes. Rinse and cleanse your face as usual.
Sandi’s Q & A
Q: I can’t always control my flare-ups so how can I camouflage the redness and pimples with cosmetics without getting a caked on look?
A: Mineral-based cosmetics may be the answer as they contain powdered formulas of silica, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which work well to absorb oil and camouflage redness. The ingredient dimethicone creates a smooth, matte finish while protecting your skin from ultraviolet light.
Q: Why does skin look like a prune after bathing?
A: This condition is caused by the absorption of water through the cellular membrane caused from being in water for too long. The increase of water in the capillary bed disrupts the sodium/potassium ratio and actually causes dehydration which creates that prune-like look.
Q: What is the difference between professional chemical peels and at-home peels?
A: Chemical peels done by physicians use higher concentrations and can treat more serious skin conditions like acne, scarring or dark patches on the skin. Chemical peels done at home or in a spa are a much weaker concentration used primarily to refresh the skin.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes that men make regarding their skin care?
A: Usually men don’t wear sunscreen because they don’t like the feel of the product on their face and they tend to use cleansing products that are too harsh on their skin and very drying.
Q: I use lipstick and lip stain, what is causing the dry, flaky skin on my lips?
A: It could be caused by the products you are using. Many lip stains, unlike other lip products, don’t have any moisturizing benefits. Exfoliate your lips and use products that are moisturizing.
