•

MINOVOIOM.t 4

wonmatganovammemos

Hold On! Read
This First ...

o you like that copper glow,
do you?
Perfectly understand-
able.
Most people's legs look better
in bronze than ghostly, ghastly
white. But, let's be bright. Na-
tionwide, more than 800,000 cas-
es of skin cancer are detected
each year. Nearly 10,000 Amer-
icans annually die of the disease.
Doctors say skin cancer fre-
quently begins innocently, in-
sidiously during sun-drenched
summer afternoons. Protection
is essential. Your best bet? Stay
out of the sun as much as possi-
ble. Wear broad-brimmed hats
and sun block. Sunglasses
and protective mois-
turizers for the face are
important, even on
cloudy days away
from the beach.
Dermatologists say
exposure to ultra-
violet rays can
harm a person just
walking down the street.
May is skin-cancer screening
month, sponsored by the Ameri-
can Academy of Dermatology in
conjunction with the American
Cancer Society. The following tid-
bits address facts you really, real-
ly don't want to know because
they might take some of the sun-
related fun out of those three-or-
so, oh-so-short, why-can't-they-last
months we call warm in Michigan.
But then again, if it's a choice
between copper and possible can-
cer ... Well, read on. We'll let you
decide.

S

unny Bo V
atC

■

I

11 Enlightening tips for
safe, sizzling fun in
the summertime.

RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER

Si

Prunes,
Scales And
Gooey Ooze

I

he sun has all sorts of ef-
fects on the skin. In addi-
tion to tans, it causes sun
poisoning, wrinkles and
skin cancer.

Not to put a damper on your
summer plans, but instances of
melanoma (skin cancer) are in-
creasing and, as yet, there is no
cure.
Sun Poisoning — Sun poi-
soning is most often described as
an allergic reaction to solar rays.
It usually involves a severe burn
or itchy rash on the skin. The
condition can be aggravated by
medications. It's best to stay out
of the sun if you're taking an-
tibiotics, some types of birth con-
trol pills, diuretics and other
drugs.
Wrinkles — Sun catalyzes
the aging process by thinning the
epidermis (upper layer of skin)
and penetrating into the lower
layer of skin, the dermis. Ultra-
violet radiation injures the der-
mis by tangling
collagen and elastic
tissue, which keep
skin firm and
youthful looking.
Skin Cancer
— What is skin
cancer? There are
three types. Basal
cell, squamous cell
and melanoma.
The first type, basal-cell car-
cinoma, is most common and
least dangerous. It is a tumor of
the skin highly correlated with
sun exposure. Although basal-
cell skin cancers rarely spread,
they can cause considerable dam-
age if left untreated.
Basal-cell skin cancers begin
as fleshy bumps or nodules on
the head, neck and hands. Ac-
cording to the American Acade-
my of Dermatology, the disorder
generally affects Caucasians who
have light hair, blue eyes and fair
complexions, as well as people
who don't tan easily.
"Untreated, the cancer will be-
gin to bleed, crust over, then re-
peat the cycle," the AAD reports.
Former President Ronald Rea-
gan suffered from a basal-cell
carcinoma on his nose. The can-
cer is often referred to as a rodent
ulcer because it tends to burrow
down into the skin.
"People have lost large por-
tions of their nose and ears due
to basal-cell skin cancer," says

Check It Out!

The American Academy of Der-
matology and American Can-
cer Society publish literature
on skin cancer and ways to ex-
amine one's body for the dis-
ease.
The organizations recom-
mend checking for the "ABCD's
Of Melanoma" on a regular ba-
sis. First, look for "A"symmet-
rical moles. Check for 'Wonder
irregularities. lithe "C"olor of

a mole is inconsistent, it might
be cancerous. La st, consider the
"D"iameter of the mole. If it's
greater than six millimeters
(larger than the size of a pen-
cil eraser), consult a doctor.
AAD and ACS also give tips
on how to find moles on your
skin. Stand in front of a mirror
and raise your arms. Bend your
elbows and look at your fore-
arms, the back of your upper