'WOESMOZOWM•\.
Dr. Stuart Gildenberg, a private
practitioner in Warren and der-
matologist on staff at Macomb
Hospital Center.
The next type of skin cancer,
squamous-cell carcinoma, is not
quite as common, but a bit more
serious than its basal counter-
part. Squamous cells look like
nodules or red scaly patches.
They're typically found on the
ear, face, lips and mouth. Unlike
basal-cell carcinoma, this type
can spread.
According to the AAD, the
cure rate for both basal and squa-
mous cell carcinomas is 95 per-
cent. Not so for malignant
melanomas. They kill 6,800
Americans each year.
Though curable in its early
stages, malignant melanomas
can metastasize, planting can-
cers throughout the body. They
begin in pigment-producing cells
called melanocytes.
Pigment colors our skin.
Warning signs for malignant
melanoma include changes in
the surface of a mole, scaliness,
oozing and bleeding. The AAD
advises individuals to look out
for bumps, nodules and the
spread of pigment from the bor-
der of a bump into surrounding
skin. Be aware also of a change
in sensation, itchiness, tender-
ness or pain.
ing and skin cancer," says Dr.
Michael Dorman who works
with Dr. Ronald Kerwin at As-
sociated Dermatologists of West
Bloomfield. "Some authorities
correlate one severe childhood
episode of sunburn with in-
creased risk of melanoma lat-
er on in life.
"While we are con-
cerned about burning
early in childhood," he
says, "it is also clear
that cumulative sun
exposure plays a
role in the develop-
ment of the disease."
Intoxicating
Rays And
Mystery
Cream
R
adiation is easy to ignore.
What's a UV-B to sexy
gams? Come on, admit it.
There's nothing quite like
the kiss and bliss of the summer
sun after a Michigan winter of
dark skies and snow.
But, again, doctors warn:
Don't overdo it.
Any sun exposure that
changes the color of your skin is
doing damage. A burn, a tan, a
rash. Not good. Any sun block
that enables you to get "just a lit-
tle color" isn't doing the job you
need it to do.
"One of the misconceptions
about sun blocks is that they al-
low people to get a tan without
any skin damage," Dr. Michael
Dorman says. "But, if enough ul-
traviolet radiation is coming in
contact with your skin to let you
Although heredity plays a role form a tan, then enough sun is
in mutating the structure and coming in contact with your skin
function of melanocytes, doctors to do damage."
The sun produces two types
believe that excessive sun expo-
sure can aggravate the condition. of rays that penetrate the
People with moles, or "beauty earth's atmosphere, ultra-
marks," should be extra careful. violet A and ultraviolet
So should sun birds who have B. They're both invisible
sustained previous malignancies. and both can harm. The
`There's a clear correlation be- rays exist on cloudy, as
tween sun exposure, sun burn- well as sunny days. There is
no safe UV light, according to
the American Academy of Der-
matology.
Doctors recommend sun-
screens with an SPF (sun pro-
arms and your palms. Sit down tection factor) of at least 15.
and look at the backs of your legs
How do creams, gels and lo-
and feet, the spaces between your tions act as shields? Put simply,
toes and your soles.
the useful ones contain ingredi-
While standing in front of a ents that scatter ultraviolet rays.
mirror, examine the back of your The product you massage into
neck and scalp with a hand mir- your skin generally has titanium
ror. Also, use a hand mirror to dioxide, which wards off beams
check your back and buttocks. of light by reflecting them else-
For more information on this where.
process, call ACS at (810) 557-
The American Academy of
5353.
Dermatology offers some advice
on proper sunscreen usage:
* Apply sunscreen with an amounts of compound "canthax- get when they first expose them-
SPF of at least 15 about 20 min- anthin." (Tanning lotions, it says, selves to the sun. Don't substi-
utes before you go out- are OK)
tute a fake tan for sun block. It
doors.
The ACS warning states: "Use won't work, and you might fry.
* Even water-resis- of pills and other products con-
tant sunscreens should taining large amounts of can-
be reapplied at least thaxanthin is illegal in the
once every two hours, or United States. Canthaxanthin is
after swimming and the major ingredient in tanning
strenuous activities that pills or tablets. Although not
make you sweat.
known to be carcinogenic, at high
* Be most careful be- dose levels it can cause serious
tween the hours of 10 a.m. damage to eyes, skin, liver, bone
octors say, look out for
and 4 p.m., but remember marrow and kidneys.
your
eyes.
that UV-A and UV-B rays are
"Canthaxanthin is a beta-
The sun's rays can
out there and dangerous, even carotene-like substance used in
blind.
on cloudy and winter days.
minuscule amounts to color
Wear sunglasses, but not any
* Sit in the shade whenever foods. A single tanning pill, how-
possible.
ever, contains over six times the old type. The lenses should fea-
* Wear a broad-brimmed hat amount in the average daily diet, ture a coating that deflects harm-
and sunglasses.
and tanning consumers are en- ful UV-A and UV-B radiation.
And watch out during winter
couraged to swallow three or four
months when the
pills each day.
"Canthaxanthin deposits it- sun reflects even
self in the skin and in the lay- more brightly off
er of fat just beneath the skin, the snow. Many
thereby imparting an orange- eye burns occur
brown color. It also ends up in while people are skiing.
the parts of the body where it
gly it looks, bad it tastes, can cause serious harm. In ad-
but smart it might be. dition to aplastic anemia (a
blood disorder), tanning-pill in-
White lipstick.
You've seen the life- gestion has been associated with
guards wear it. These days, the allergic skin reactions, renal
gook comes in a rainbow of damage, hepatitis and blurred
ruising with the top
shades: hot pink, neon blue, elec- vision at night.
down, feeling the wind in
"The federal Food and Drug
tric green. (Thankfully, clear
your hair, the sun on bare
Administration has repeatedly
glosses have hit the market.)
shoulders, the rush of
Tacky as a fashion statement, warned that the sale of can- speeding traffic en route to va-
these products, with zinc oxide thaxanthin-containing tanning cation might be exhilarating.
But watch your head.
and titanium dioxide, neverthe- pills is illegal. Pills are market-
less act as protection for our lips. ed not only in tanning parlors,
Sun roofs and convertibles
And lips, says Dr. Stuart Gilden- but also via newspapers and are hip, chic and heavenly, but
magazine advertisements. you risk a scalp burn.
berg in Warren, are at risk.
"When you have the sun roof
"Although it is not overly com- Sometimes, beta-carotene is list-
mon to get a melanoma on the ed along with canthaxanthin as open, rays get through and can
damage your skin," says Dr.
lip, people do get precancerous one of the ingredients."
Allen Halper, a compliance Ralph Coskey, a dermatologist
lesions or squamous-cell cancers
there. Particularly on the lower officer in the FDA's office of at Sinai Hospital. "We see peo-
lip, which is more sun-exposed," cosmetics and colors, confirms ple who get precancerous lesions
this caveat. Though the FDA on their head."
he says.
Guidelines for regular sun- doesn't police retailers selling
The lesions are called solar
screen apply to lip protection. tanning pills, "if we find out that keratoses, and some, albeit few,
Something with an SPF of 15 or someone is manufacturing or develop into cancers. Bald men
higher is impor- distributing them, we will fol- are more at risk than people
tant. And remem- low up. The agency's position is with full heads of hair.
that they are adul-
Dr. Coskey's advice: Wear
ber to reapply.
a hat. (Secure it, somehow, so
"One good terated cosmetics
the breeze doesn't blow it
kiss," Dr. Gilden- because they con-
away.) Better yet, rub sun-
berg says "can take tain a nonpermissi-
ble colorant."
your protection away."
screen into your scalp. Get a
Self-tanning lo- CC
friend or physician to check
tions are a different
the top of your head for solar
story. While many
keratoses.
consumers complain
"It's really, really, really
that these products
common," Dr. Coskey says. ❑
turn their skin or- _J TANNING
CREME
ange rather than
brown, the lotions
pose no health haz-
opping tanning pills might ard, doctors say.
WWI 31/8
0)
• e
`a Stay tuned for up-
create that just-back-from- They simply activate
cr)
pigment-producing
Aruba glow.
coming Health Beat
Sounds nice, but is it cells, which turn the skin dark-
articles on the debate
er.
safe?
over
tanning booths
However, sun bathers should
The American Cancer Society
and seasonal mood
recently published a warning remember that out-of-bottle tans
disorders.
against tanning pills and other do not serve to protect against
products containing large the initial burn people usually
Four Eyes See
More Than
None
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What's With
The White
Stuff?
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At Risk With A
Roof Down?
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Am I Orange,
Tan, Or Really
Stupid?
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