Editor's
Message
Melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, is on the rise. We in the spa world, with our general concerns about health and well-being and our intimate dealings with our clients and their skin, are ideally positioned to help raise awareness and increase the cure rate. That's why SpaFinder has launched its initiative to combat melanoma and is encouraging the entire spa industry to join in. I'd like to thank world-renowned Pevonia Botanica Skincare for underwriting this special edition of Spa Enthusiast and for its generosity in funding a melanoma research study. After a friend and spa industry colleague, Alex Szekely, died of melanoma at a very young age, I was inspired to learn more. I was shocked at what I found. (Some statistics are on this page.) There is a lot to learn, but much of it boils down to two simple precautions. One: Protect yourself and your children from the sun. If you must be exposed, wear sunblock. Two: Check your skin regularly. See a dermatologist every third year if you're between 20 and 49, annually thereafter. Do a self-check every six to eight weeks, looking for any mole or area with the ABCDE characteristics: Asymmetry, an irregular Border, a change of Color, Dimensions larger than a pencil eraser, and Elevation. For more information or to make a contribution, visit the website below. And remember: While melanoma can be fatal, if detected early, it's 95 percent curable.
To our health,
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Playing the
Numbers When It Comes to Sun Protection?
Don't take a gamble with your life.90 Percent of skin cancers caused by sun exposure 33 Percent of Americans who routinely use sun protection 1,500,000 Number of skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States 1 in 3 Chances of an American developing skin cancer 6 Number of minutes before a Colorado skier not wearing sunscreen at 11,000 feet at noon will get a sunburn 14 Number of minutes before a Florida beachgoer not wearing sunscreen at noon will get a sunburn 7 SPF of a white T-shirt. A T-shirt isn't an effective cover-up. 3 SPF of a wet white T-shirt. Wet fabrics lose half their protective value. 18 to 20Number of square feet of skin on the human body 2 to 4 Number of ounces of sunscreen you should slather on your body during a long day at the beach 80 Percent of the ultraviolet radiation that can reach the earth on a cloudy winter day 80 Percent by which the risk of skin cancer decreases for someone who uses regular sun protection through childhood 800 Percent by which the risk of melanoma increases for people under 35 who use a tanning bed 8,000 Number of melanoma deaths each year 90 Percent chance of surviving at least five years if melanoma is detected early |
