SLCo Employee Wellness Wellcast
The SLCo Employee Wellness Wellcast is a fun, entertaining, and enlightening look at health and wellness. It breaks down complex health topics and interviews experts in the wellness field to help participants live healthier lives.
SLCo Employee Wellness Wellcast
Your Skin Tells A Story - Make It A Healthy One
It’s your body’s largest organ, your first line of defense, and it tells your story. So today, let’s talk skin — more specifically, why sunscreen isn’t optional and why a skin check could literally save your life.
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Employee Wellness Wellcast, the podcast where we dive deep into the things that keep us healthy, happy and informed. I'm your host, jane Hansen, and today we're talking about something you wear every single day your skin. It's your body's largest organ, your first line of defense, and it tells your story. So today let's talk skin, more specifically, why sunscreen isn't optional and why a skin check could literally save your life. Our skin keeps us protected from the outside world from harmful bacteria, uv radiation and environmental pollutants, but it's also incredibly vulnerable, so it's important that we treat it with care. Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with skin conditions, and the most concerning of these is skin cancer. In fact, did you know that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70? There are three types of skin cancer Basal cell sarconoma, the most common. Slow growing, but it can be disfiguring. Squamous cell sarconoma it's the second most common and it can spread if it's untreated. And then the third is melanoma it's the most dangerous, it's responsible for most skin cancer deaths, but it's very treatable when it's caught early. So how do we protect ourselves? One word prevention. Let's talk about sunscreen or, as dermatologists call it your daily armor. Spf stands for sun protection factor. It measures how well the sunscreen protects you from your UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn and contribute to skin cancer. But here's the kicker there are two types of UV rays that we need to worry about. Uva rays these penetrate deeper into the skin, they cause premature aging wrinkles and they contribute to skin cancer. Then we have UVB rays these affect the surface layer of the skin. They cause sunburns and direct DNA damage. You need broad spectrum sunscreen that protects us against both. So here's the real question how do you use sunscreen correctly? When you're reaching for sunscreen, opt for 30 SPF or higher. Give yourself time to marinate before you jump into the sun. So apply 15 to 30 minutes before your sun exposure. Use about two tablespoons to cover your whole body and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Oh and yes, even on cloudy days, up to 80% of UV rays can pass through clouds, and if you're indoors next to a window, uv rays can still get you. So daily application is super important to keep you safe from the sun. So let's bust a few common myths regarding sunscreen, shall we? Here's the myth I have darker skin, I don't need sunscreen Wrong. While melanin does offer some natural protection, it's not enough to prevent damage or skin cancer. In fact, skin cancer in people with darker skin tones is often diagnosed later in life, making it more dangerous. So daily application of sunscreen is super important and it's your first line of defense. Here's the myth I only need sunscreen when I'm at the beach or in the sun. Nope, Daily exposure of walking the dog, driving your car, running errands it all adds up over time. That's what causes long-term skin damage. So daily application of sunscreen is super important.
Speaker 1:All sunscreens are greasy or bad for your skin. This is a myth, and not anymore. There are amazing mineral and chemical options for every skin type, from oily to acne prone to sensitive. You haven't found the one you love yet? Well, just keep trying or do your research. Your skin will thank you for wearing sunscreen.
Speaker 1:So now that we've talked about sunscreen, let's talk about skin checks and how they save your life. So how do you know if something's wrong? You've probably heard of the ABCDE rule for identifying potential melanomas. When you're looking at your skin, take a moment to observe. Do you have any bumps or moles or discoloration? Maybe it's a patch of skin that looks different from the rest. Regular skin checks can help us know what to look for and, if anything is concerning, to be checked by a dermatologist. So let's talk about what skin checks are and the ABCDE rule.
Speaker 1:What is a skin check? A skin check involves carefully examining your skin from head to toe to look for any new, changing or unusual spots or moles. This includes checking your scalp, your face, including your ears and behind your ears, your neck and your chest, your face, including your ears and behind your ears, your neck and your chest, arms and underarms, hands and in between your fingers, your back, your legs, your feet and even your bikini and buttocks area. Use a full-length mirror when you're checking and, for areas that are difficult to see, ask someone that you live with to help you Take note of any moles or spots and whether they change over time. The ABCDE rule is a guideline for identifying atypical moles or melanomas.
Speaker 1:A stands for asymmetry. Normal moles are usually symmetrical. If you draw a line through the middle, they have two halves that will match. Melanomas are asymmetrical. One half does not match the other. If you have an asymmetrical mole, you should get checked. B B stands for border. Normal moles have smooth, even borders. Melanomas often have irregular, scalloped or poorly defined edges. If you notice an irregular border, you should get checked.
Speaker 1:C stands for color. Benign moles are usually a single shade of brown or tan. Melanomas can have multiple colors, including different shades of brown, black, red, white, blue or even pink. If your mole is a different shade, you should get checked. D stands for diameter. Most benign moles are small Melanomas are typically larger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser, though some can be smaller when first detected.
Speaker 1:E. E stands for evolving. Watch for change over time. If a mole or a lesion is changing in size, or a lesion is changing in size, shape, color or begins to itch, bleed or crust, it could be suspicious and it's an indication for you to be checked by a dermatologist. So when should we be seen by a dermatologist? You should consult a healthcare provider if you notice a new mole that looks unusual, a mole that has changed in its appearance, a sore that doesn't heal, or a spot on your skin that bleeds or becomes itchy.
Speaker 1:People with fair skin or a family history of skin cancer or a history of sunburns are at higher risk and may benefit from regular professional skin checks, usually annually or more frequent, if recommended, let's bring it home. Your skin tells a story. It reflects your habits, your environment and your health, and with a little bit of effort, daily SPF, monthly self-checks and yearly doctor's visits you can make sure that it stays a healthy story. Remember sunscreen isn't just for the beach, it's for every day. Skin cancer is common, but it's preventable and early detection of skin cancer can save your life. If you take one thing from today, let it be this Respect your skin, treat it with care, show it some love and wear your sunscreen. Thanks for spending today with me. I hope you liked this episode, I hope you learned something new and I hope you feel motivated to do a self-check and get yourself in to see your dermatologist. Don't forget to subscribe to the Employee Wellness Wellcast for more real conversations about your health and about your wellness. Stay safe, stay protected and don't forget your sunscreen. Bye.