Coco Chanel didn’t know: the sun is a silent killer
Sunscreen and Early Detection Saves Lives
Annual skin-mapping and MOHS surgery saved my life
SUNSCREEN SAVES LIVES! MAKE IT A PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE
“The perfect suntan” became fashionable in the early 1920’s. Before that, creamy complexions were considered the ideal of beauty and sun-tanned skin signaled that a person was from the working classes. The upper class shielded their skin from the sun at all times to avoid the stigma of a sun-tan. The ideal was skin so white that the blue veins beneath were visible; royalty and aristocracy were referred to as “bluebloods.
In the early 1920's, French designers Coco Chanel, Jean Patou and Lacoste, created the first tanning products, but WITHOUT SUNSCREEN. They were just wonderful smelling oils that were luxurious and emollient, but offered no protection from the sun’s damaging rays. They were rather like the BAIN DE SOLEIL product popularized in the 1960’s, smelling great, promoting the perfect “San Tropez tan”, but offering zero sun protection. (Remember when sun worshippers used baby oil with a drop of iodine to promote deep tanning?)
It was not until the 1940’s that Coppertone introduced a sunblock alongside the arrival of the bikini, which exposed more skin than ever to the powerful rays of the sun.
What COCO didn’t know…
As legend has it, a young Coco Chanel popularized tanning among the wealthy and fashionable. A golden tan signified that one had both the means and the leisure time to indulge in long vacations at the beach or on a yacht. Aristotle Onassis once said, “A successful man arises at dawn and always has a suntan”. The trend trickled down to the general public, as fashion trends always do, and sunbathing became a popular activity around the world. Science had not yet revealed the premature aging and other ravaging effects the sun has on the skin. We know now, the the sun is a potential killer.
We have learned that a suntan is no indicator of good health. Rather, it is the attempt of the body to heal the sun damage to our fragile skin. SKIN CANCER IS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RADIATION FROM THE SUN. The damage to skin cell DNA may not show up for decades, but occurring years before cancer develops.
I have been an avid sunbather since my teens. I worshipped the sun for decades, long before the widespread use of sunscreens. Basking in the sun felt marvelous and “the perfect tan” looked great. I spent several youthful summers life-guarding poolside and never thought to use sunscreen. It was only when I moved to Asia for 12 years that I took sun exposure more seriously. Locals taught me to AVOID the sun and protect the skin.
I recently visited my dermatologist for my annual “body-mapping” and have been diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma, a potential deadly form of skin cancer. My doctor immediately booked me for my first MOHS surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is a precise, microscopic surgical technique used to treat skin cancer. It has become the gold standard for treating skin cancer. During the Mohs surgery, a surgeon removes thin layers of skin and examines them under a microscope to determine if any cancer remains. This process continues until only cancer-free tissue remains. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the cure rate is up to 99% for new cancers. (It is a slightly lower 95% for recurrent cancers.)
TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SKIN CANCER:
Avoid the mid-day sun.
Wear sunscreen every day, even indoors on a cloudy day.
Wear protective clothing.
Avoid tanning beds.
Visit your Dermatologist annually for a total “body-mapping”.
Early detection is critical.
