Latest news with #sunsafety
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Walsall grandmother spreads skin cancer awareness
"It's always nice to have a tan but it's just not worth the risk."Chris Ford, 78, from Aldridge, was diagnosed with skin cancer two years ago after noticing a new skin lesion by her eye was referred to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital and had a procedure under local anaesthetic to remove the cancerous the grandmother is committed to raising awareness of the importance of people looking after their skin. "I've always loved the sunshine, and I used to go on the sunbeds quite a lot when I was younger," she said."I'd always reach for a tanning oil over a high factor SPF and it's something I really regret now."Ms Ford was previously treated for a basal-cell carcinoma on her nose in 2014, which she was told was likely to have come from over-exposure to UV had surgery to remove the cancerous cells, and a skin graft was taken from her neck."It's awful knowing this could've been prevented if I'd have just looked after my skin properly in my younger years," she said she now "religiously" applied sun cream with a high SPF and took precautions to protect herself in warm weather."All my health scares have really changed my outlook on life, as I'm aware I could've easily had these experiences taken from me," she added."I now live for spending time with my two-year-old granddaughter Harper who's bought a new lease of life to me. "I also volunteer at Walsall Manor Hospital twice a week, fundraise for Guide Dogs UK and enjoy my fair share of holidays and day trips – but I can only do these things because I have health on my side." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I made a common vacation mistake in Punta Cana... it deformed my face
A New Yorker's beach vacation soon turned into a horror story after she made a simple mistake that led her to 'look like E.T'. Ashlei Bianchi, 23, had spent a March afternoon soaking up the sun with her family near a pool in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. But by the time she came inside, the youngster realized that she had developed a slight redness on her face despite covering herself in sunscreen. By evening, her forehead and other parts of her face had begun to swell - which she later noted were the first signs of something sinister. However at the time, Bianchi believed that she was suffering from a mild sunburn and wiped her face with an aloe vera gel while continuing her trip. But things quickly went downhill when Bianchi woke up on the final morning of the holiday to find one of her eyes had swollen shut. She recalled: 'I FaceTimed my mom, and she said I didn't even look like myself, then the family I went with said I looked like E.T. My face started getting worse, and that's when the swelling on and under my eyes happened.' In fear of what may have happened, Bianchi decided to contact a string of doctors and realized that she was suffering from sun poisoning. Sun poisoning is a term often used to describe a severe sunburn. It does not actually result in 'poisoning' but instead causes symptoms such as severe skin rashes, blistering and peeling skin that are more severe than a typical sunburn. Bianchi later explained that her face most likely swelled up due to excessive sun exposure while lying and walking around in areas with no shade for long periods of time - causing her to develop sun poisoning. She said: 'My face started getting worse, and that's when the swelling on and under my eyes happened. My doctor wasn't sure if it was sun poisoning, but I work at a hospital and asked a rheumatologist. 'She said it was sun poisoning so that's what I have been telling people it is.' Sun poisoning usually occurs from prolonged sun exposure without any or inadequate protection such as sunscreens or shade. It remains unclear which kind of sunscreen or other protections Bianchi has used during her trip. The poisoning can also occur with even mild sun exposure in people who are more sensitive to the sun such as Bianchi, who are fair-skinned or have a family history of conditions such as skin cancer. Some of the common symptoms of sun poisoning include dehydration, fever, chills, headache, nausea and vomiting, However in Bianchi's case, she developed severe redness and swelling. By the end of the four-day trip, the young New Yorker's face had become so puffy that she feared she wouldn't be able to get through customs. She said: 'I had to go on my flight and go through customs looking not like myself, and I was scared I wasn't going to be able to get back home. I'm so thankful I made it through. 'I wore my sunglasses the whole trip home, even when it was dark out, because I was so embarrassed.' In fear of what may have happened, Bianchi decided to contact a string of doctors and realized that she was suffering from sun poisoning In most cases symptoms of sun poisoning can be managed at home by taking in electrolytes and applying cool compresses as well aloe vera gel over rashes and peeling skin. In cases of pain, over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen can help. Desperate to find relief, Bianchi even stopped at a pharmacy at the Dominican airport and bought anti-inflammatory medication. She also reached out to her doctor, who prescribed her an oral steroid to curb the swelling - but she couldn't start treatment until she landed back in the States on March 25. Once she reached home, Bianchi began taking steroids and by the fourth day, her face to finally return to its normal shape. She said: 'It wasn't painful, just more uncomfortable. It hurt when I had to close my eyes all the way. 'When I went to the pharmacy, the lady working had wide eyes and went, 'Oh my.' 'Then, when I went through customs in Boston, the guy was like, 'Too much sun?' and I was like, 'Yep!' Now fully recovered, Bianchi is sharing her story as a warning about the dangers of sun exposure – even with sunscreen. She said: 'I would say the dangers of sun exposure are real. I'm lucky my sun poisoning affected my face and not anything else. 'I had no symptoms besides swelling. It's very important to use your sunscreen and wear hats. I think that's where I went wrong. 'I really should have had something besides sunscreen protecting my face. 'But all in all, the sun is no joke, especially in the Caribbean where it's much more potent.'
CNET
23-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
It's National Don't Fry Day. Here's How to Check Your Skin for Signs of Cancer
Ihe Friday before Memorial Day is known as National Don't Fry Day. It was created by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention to raise awareness about sun safety and the importance of protecting one's skin when outdoors. While the sun can provide many benefits, such as vitamin D, it's always important to apply sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they reach age 70. Fortunately, many cases of skin cancer (like basal and squamous cell cancer) don't spread to other parts of the body and can usually be removed through a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Melanoma, however, can spread to other parts of the body, and it's necessary to catch it early to minimize the risk of the disease. How often should you check for skin cancer? The US Preventive Task Force, which makes preventive health care or cancer screening recommendations, says there's not "sufficient" evidence to recommend, or not recommend, visual screenings for adolescents and adults without any symptoms of skin cancer from a primary care doctor. But as the American Academy of Dermatology points out, this isn't a statement on the value of skin examinations by a dermatologist -- people with a history of skin cancer or people who notice spots on their skin should see a dermatologist for a professional exam. Everyone is encouraged to do regular checks of their own skin by following these steps. In terms of timing, the end of summer may present a great time for a skin examination -- waiting until your summer tan has started to fade may make it easier to spot potentially problematic blemishes, according to one report from the Austin American Statesman. You should also go in for a skin examination if you have a mole or freckle that you're questioning. A warning sign would be a blemish that's changed its appearance recently. Remember these "ABCDE" signs that a blemish, mole or freckle needs medical attention because it may be melanoma, per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: A symmetrical (one part of the blemish looks different than the other). symmetrical (one part of the blemish looks different than the other). B order (it has a jagged or irregular-looking outline). order (it has a jagged or irregular-looking outline). C olor (the color is uneven). olor (the color is uneven). D iameter (it's larger than a pea). iameter (it's larger than a pea). Evolving (it's changed size, shape or color over time). In addition to melanoma, which the American Academy of Dermatology says is considered the most serious type of skin cancer because of its ability to spread, other, rarer types of skin cancer can spread, too. These include sebaceous carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. Is there a skin cancer vaccine? According to information released last summer, there's a skin cancer vaccine in the works that's so far been shown to reduce the risk of melanoma returning compared with traditional treatment alone. An mRNA vaccine from Moderna and Merck proved 44% effective at reducing the risk of death and melanoma remission when used with a traditional immunotherapy prescribed for melanoma (pembrolizumab), compared with just immunotherapy alone. Positive results of the phase 2b trial were published in spring 2023, and a late-stage clinical trial on the vaccine was set to begin last year. Though this means we're likely a few years away from any potential approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, the findings on the mRNA skin cancer vaccine may lead the way for treatment not only of skin cancer but of other types as well, according to Dr. Jeffrey Weber, senior investigator on the trial and professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "Although there have been many different clinical trials of cancer vaccines, there really has never been a cancer vaccine that has clearly shown reproducible clinical benefits," Weber told CNET in 2023. Skin cancer in people with darker complexions may be less common, but more risky People of Black, Hispanic or Asian descent are much less likely to get skin cancer, including melanoma, than people who are white. This is because darker complexions have more melanin, which helps protect skin from damaging UV rays -- the most common cause of skin cancer. But that does not mean that having darker skin equals no risk. In fact, people with darker skin tones have higher proportions of melanoma in different places on the body where we haven't necessarily been taught to look out for signs of skin cancer, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under the nails and even the rectal and vaginal areas. These types of cancer have "different molecular mechanisms," Weber said, so they aren't linked to sunlight or UV exposure. These less common types of melanoma may also be more likely to slip past a doctor and lead to later or missed diagnoses in people with darker skin than those with lighter skin. A study published this summer, as reported by The Washington Post, found that Black men had a higher risk of dying from melanoma (a 26% increase) than white men. This builds on a 2019 report from the CDC, which found that melanoma survival rates in Black Americans "lagged" behind white Americans despite fewer cases overall. In the same report, the CDC called for more awareness by providers and patients of acral lentiginous melanoma (cancer of the feet and palms). How to reduce your risk of skin cancer To minimize your risk of melanoma and other types of skin cancer, you should protect yourself from UV rays -- according to the Illinois Department of Health, more than 90% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. To do this, look to sunscreen, or consider wearing a hat and other breathable clothing outdoors. And you probably already know this one by now, but it bears repeating: refrain from indoor tanning beds. Beyond making an appointment with a dermatologist to check your skin, if you've spent a lot of time in the sun, have a suspicious blemish or otherwise think it's a good idea to get checked, you should be monitoring your skin at home.
