Men & Skin
If you are like most men, caring for your skin is a woman's thing - right?
The thing is, anyone can suffer from skin disease, including skin cancer and melanoma - the most deadly form of skin cancer. In most cases, these problems are preventable with proper care. Beyond the basic guidelines outlined on the American Academy of Dermatology website, men need to pay particular attention to two things, exposure to the sun and dry skin.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure is the primary contributor to skin cancer, and it is important for anyone who spends any time in the sun to wear sunscreen. Even if you will only be in the sun for a few minutes, the proper sunscreen can make the difference between simply "getting some yard work done" and eventually needing radiation treatments for cancer. We can recommend a sunscreen, but at a minimum wear a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen with a minimum 30 SPF.
It may seem silly to lather your face with lotion, but it is far less expensive and practical than losing a portion of your face to skin cancer - and that is not an exaggeration.
Please ask our staff about a recommended sunscreen and read more here about ways to minimize your risk of skin cancer.
Dry Skin
A man (or anyone, for that matter) may look at dry skin on the hands or face as no big deal. After all, using hand cream is inconvenient and messy, and rough hands show hard work, right?
Moisturizers and/or hand cream can be messy, but dry, cracked skin may be a better indicator of your health than your hard work. Dry skin by itself can create health issues, but it also opens the door for serious infection and other disease from both direct contact and air-borne germs. It is important to use a good hand cream or moisturizer in those areas where your skin is prone to dryness. This can help prevent mores serious forms of disease from developing.
We can recommend specific products, but simply try keeping a tube of hand cream in your car or truck. Apply some in the morning when you first start up and then again once or twice during the day. Finally, apply moisturizer or hand cream before bed to hands and areas that are prone to dryness. Some men find this a bit embarrassing at first, but you will be saving yourself from medical bills as well as lost time from work, your hobbies, and your family.
If you have areas that become scaly, itchy or discolored, please make an appointment to see Dawn right away. Get to know the ABC's of skin spots, which are outlined here.
Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you have with our staff.