However, first, I'd like to tell you about a charitable initiative we carried out at Estetic Medic Garvin during the month of February.
We've created three facial protocols to care for your skin, and we'll donate 10% of all proceeds to the Spanish Cancer Association:
- RECOVER AND STRENGTHEN YOUR SKIN BARRIER protocol to reinforce your natural defenses and protect yourself from harmful bacteria that cause disease.
- MATURE SKIN PROTOCOL FROM 45 YEARS OLD to pamper, nourish and revitalize areas with more blemishes, dehydrated areas and thinner skin (neck, décolletage and face).
- RESET SPOTS FROM SUN EXPOSURE protocol so that those aesthetic spots resulting from sun exposure do not develop into skin diseases.
[page_link=109,c=,t=Book your facial now] Book your facial now>> [/page_link]
February 4th marks World Skin Cancer Day, and this is a way to do our part and support research to find a cure once and for all.
This video moves me:
Now, do you want to know the most effective way to protect yourself against skin cancer at any time of year?
Keep reading!
How to prevent skin cancer in adults
According to data from the Catalan Institute of Oncology, "more than 80% of skin cancer cases, whether melanoma or carcinoma, could be prevented by avoiding excessive sun exposure."
Keep in mind that protection, along with self-examination for early detection and a healthy lifestyle, are your best weapons in the fight against this disease.
Protection against ultraviolet rays always
Sun protection is very important from childhood. Most cases of skin cancer occur after the age of 30. However, sun damage from childhood can lead to skin cancer in adulthood. You've probably heard the expression that the skin has a memory, meaning that skin cells have the ability to accumulate DNA damage and develop diseases years later.
Additionally, protecting your skin from the sun and tanning booths also helps prevent:
- Wrinkles and premature aging
- Dark spots
- And other skin and eye lesions
7 keys to protecting yourself from the sun
1. Teach children to protect themselves from the sun from a young age . Raise their awareness of its importance and ensure it is an automatic part of their routine: wearing a hat and sunglasses, staying in the shade, or using sunscreen. Good skin-healthy habits can be incorporated from a young age.
2. Cover yourself with a scarf, hat and sunglasses or seek shelter in the shade.
3. Do not overuse artificial ultraviolet radiation such as tanning lamps and beds.
4. Avoid sunbathing during peak hours, between 12 and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its highest point and the UV index is highest. And never sunbathe until you burn or turn red.
5. Use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 throughout the year. Get into the habit of using it regularly , not just in the summer, even when it's cloudy, because the sun's rays also penetrate through it.
6. During times of greater sun exposure , apply creams with SPF 30 or 50 , half an hour before exposure and repeating the application every 2 hours.
7. Never use expired sunscreens .
Need to renew your sunscreen? Browse our store and buy the one you like best!
The ABCDE rule for early detection
Pay attention to your freckles, moles, and dark spots and check them with the world-renowned screening system. It's the ABCDE rule that helps you differentiate a normal mole from a cancerous melanoma:
- ASYMMETRY : one half of the mole is different from the other half.
- EDGES : The edges are irregular, different, blurred or poorly defined.
- COLOR : if there is a variety of colors within the mole or it has reddish, whitish or bluish colors.
- DIAMETER : when the mole increases or measures more than 6 millimeters.
- EVOLUTION : changes shape, color or size.
Perform a self-examination once a month, and if you detect any irregularities, see your dermatologist.
Risk factors
Genetics and skin type also influence the likelihood of developing skin cancer. These are the most common factors:
- Light skin (phototypes I and II) : Lighter skin means it has less melanin and is therefore less protected against solar radiation. People with blond or red hair or light eyes (blue or green) burn more easily.
- Moles : Skin with many moles has a higher risk of developing some type of skin cancer.
- Family history : Although sun-induced cancer is not hereditary because it is due to a genetic mutation, you can inherit other types of skin cancer.
- People with weakened immune systems or chronic inflammatory conditions are more susceptible, as are those who work in the sun all day.
- Women and people over 50 are at greater risk of contracting this disease.
Types of skin cancer
The main types of skin cancer are:
- Basal cell carcinoma . This is the most common skin cancer, with an incidence of 80–90% of all skin cancers, although mortality is low because it is unlikely to metastasize. These tumors originate in the lowest layer of the epidermis. In this case, sun exposure, use of artificial tanning booths, increased life expectancy, and outdoor activities are the main causes of the disease.
- Squamous cell carcinoma . Its incidence is lower (it only occurs in 10 to 30% of skin cancers) and usually occurs in older people, those with chronic sun exposure, or those with a personal history of skin cancer.
- Melanoma . Most melanomas form on the skin of the trunk or extremities. However, they can also appear on other, less visible parts of the body, such as the lining of the mouth, rectum, vagina, or inside the eyes.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis can improve the prognosis of the disease.
According to data from the Spanish Association Against Cancer , "every year, 3 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 132,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed worldwide." And it's estimated that 1.5 million patients worldwide delay seeking medical attention after first identifying suspicious signs.
It has been proven that, without a doubt, the best way to fight skin cancer is protection from ultraviolet rays and early diagnosis.
Therefore, I recommend that you maintain a healthy lifestyle, protect yourself from ultraviolet rays, and see your dermatologist if you experience any warning signs.
Do you want to take care of your skin but don't know where to start? Or maybe you've been treating your skin for years without results because you haven't found the right solution?
Let me guide you.
After many years treating and caring for all skin types, I've come to understand that we can't categorize skin under such generalized concepts as: oily, combination, dry, or sensitive. Therefore, when you buy cosmetics, even from high-priced, well-known brands, you don't find the solution you're looking for.
Learn everything you need to know about your skin, so you can understand it and take care of it at home the way it deserves.
