Smoking vs. Tanning Beds: What’s Worse?

smoking and tanning beds

By now almost everyone is very aware of how bad smoking is; that it’s a major cause of cancer. But by the numbers, as awful as tobacco is; there’s something even more proficient at triggering the disease. Indoor tanning beds are directly linked to skin cancer. In fact, per the cited Foxnews.com article: “In 2009, … Read more

Cultures of Sunless Pale Skin

Cultures of Sunless Pale Skin

While we in the West have unfortunately embraced tanning and bronzed skin over the past century, there are cultures, particularly Asian cultures, within which pale skin is still both King and Queen. For instance, the porcelain look is still very much treasured in countries such as China, Korea and India. Today we discuss Cultures of … Read more

Melanoma of the Nails: Yup, It Can Happen.

Melanoma of the nails

As we’ve often written, Melanoma and skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body. Indeed, this blog just recently covered a rare Melanoma that can begin in your body. Today we’re going to stick with that theme of Melanoma developing where you normally wouldn’t expect it, and focus on Melanoma of the Nails (fingers and … Read more

Are You Getting the SPF You Pay For?

SPF Truth in advertising

A Consumer Reports study cited by CNN in the source article credited and linked below states that almost 50% of American sunscreens have a lesser amount of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) than their products advertised having. In some cases, dramatically less. These findings are very important, because this is nothing like buying a 20 piece … Read more

What’s the Difference Between Sunscreen and Sunblock?

sunscreen and sunblock definitions

Although FDA labeling no longer allows sun protection companies to label as  products as “sunblock”, there is a meaning to each name and we break the confusion down for you here. What are Words For? While both terms are effective defensive options against the sun, the former concentrates on UVA rays, and the latter, UVB. … Read more

Moles: Good, Bad or Just Ugly?

Moles: are they all cancerous

Okay, so there’s technically nothing “good” about moles per se; unless you are Cindy Crawford, Sherilyn Fenn or Eva Mendez. As far as the ‘typical’ Moles go, there is really bad about them either. So the title of this post is, theoretically, justifiable. At any rate, today we’d like to talk about moles. And maybe, with some assistance from … Read more

Don’t Fry Day 2016

May is Melanoma Awareness Month. And just as it’s kicked off every year with Melanoma Monday, it begins its wind down with Don’t Fry Day. Don’t Fry Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Friday of May, and in 2016 it falls on May 27th. As you know, that’s today; so of course it’s no … Read more