A few years ago, I wrote about Moles & Malignant Melanoma in response to the abuse of my skin from too much sun and tanning beds in the old days. I have consistently cut back on intense sun exposure. I rarely lay in the sun and take the expected precautions with sunscreen, clothing and head gear. Yet, recently I had unusual skin activity on my forehead, nose and neck. The spot on the neck was most troublesome in appearance and irritation. Today, I visited the dermatologist and in short order, after a full body once over, the can of liquid nitrogen was produced and without much fanfare he commenced to freeze (‘burn’!) two spots on my forehead (previously frozen), two spots on my nose and one on my clavicle (this one was/is troublesome). My face and adjacent area suitably on fire, the doctor proceeded to warn me, yet again, to take better care of my self.
‘beware the Ides of March.’ Shakespeare, 1599 (Julius Caesar)
Vanity, foolishness, just plain carelessness are my standards of skin care. The doctor joked, as he froze the spots, that he hoped I didn’t have any photo shoots/family portraits coming up in the next few weeks (the spots take 2-4 weeks to heal). The pre-cancerous cells are usually/eventually replaced with newer, healthier cells. I must, you must, do better in the great outdoors!
The doctor remarked that my problems were not just from some recent activities, but rather from a lifetime of recreating in the sun. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
I take my skin care very seriously. I started this around 32 when I moved to a much sunnier place. Within months, I had a pile of new freckles and moles. Always with hats and sunscreen and glasses. So far, so good, but I’m fair and I worry all the more about it. I’m glad you were proactive about it.
Thank you…
I’m just back from accompanying my hubby to have a squamous cell tumor removed from his ear. Plastic surgery required next week. Full blown cancer in less that 3 months from the first dry and itchy spot! As you say Gary, the damage is done way back in the past … and its now as we get older it can get triggered by over exposure.
I would say more than moderation is needed 😉
So very true…wishing him the best!!!
I hope you live through this ordeal. We all need to get ourselves to the doctor for a check of our skin. I know my husband and I have always been outdoors in the sun and had many bad sunburns. Hope everyone heeds your warning.
I’m ok at this point..thank you. Just a bit too oblivious to the risks…as we are with heart, diabetes, skin, liver…:-)
I try and stay away from Mr. Sun. He likes to burn me until I am red as a freshly made lobster. I get the redheads tan… LOL
then you know full well to embrace the beauty of your fair complexion!!
A further warning, Gary. I have to tell you that three of my friends in their eighties have this procedure on fairly regular occasions. The good news is that it is kept at bay,
Thank you Derrick. The doc did say fully 80% of his older patients have multiples of such cells on their bodies…quite common, but……..
maybe you’ll be in the 20%
sharing a good net friend from ZA, who normally writes about fly fishing there…but came home..https://paracaddis.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/looking-back/#comment-4480 you might enjoy
Thoroughly enjoyed it, Gary. Now following
Glad you enjoyed.
Unfortunately liquid nitrogen and I meet each other far too often. The damage was done in my childhood.
Ah, yes. At 4 y/o my Mom gabbed away on the party line for several hours while I played in the wading pool on a blistering hot day. I got the worst of sunburns. That was the earliest of many sunburns to follow. Later, the sun worship commenced. Moderation.
Yes, now I need to be careful to find a balance between skin care and the body’s requirement for Vit D.