Skin Cancer is Preventable with @larocheposayca #SaveLives Skin Check

This summer we have experienced some intense heat and sunny days here on the Saskatchewan prairies.  Living on the farm where we have little to no shaded shelter it’s easy to remember to apply sunblock before walking out the door for fear of becoming sunburned in a matter of minutes.  As a kid I never really thought about the damage the sun could do or that skin cancer was a possibility just by getting a tan on the beach with my other teenage friends looking for that perfect golden brown glow.  As a result to those sunbathing day, I noticed a sun spot on my chest and face last year which is now a permanent reminder to wear sunblock slapping me in the face every time I look in the mirror.  Hearing and reading stories of people who have had skin cancer’s deadliest form, Melanoma, I worry not only about my skin but for my children.  Skin Cancer is preventable and Melanoma can easily be caught early using skin cancer skin check evaluation techniques.

Our eldest daughter, Miss Priss, has fair skin and burns easily; as a little one I always made sure she had sunblock applied to her innocent skin using products like the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Kids Velvet-Soft SPF 45. Her skin has always been so sensitive to sunlight that even with the highest sunblock SPF she will burn; it’s especially important that she not only wear sunblock but protective clothing.  Recently she has begun mentioning that she would like a tan like the rest of her friends; it’s saddening to me that teens still think of a suntan like it’s a fashion trend and are so naive that they would risk their health for it.  Unlike the old self-tanners on the market that turned you more orange than brown, there are many self-tanner sprays or mousse’s on the market today that do provide a beautiful golden glow without the harmful UV rays that comes along with sun tanning.  People can still have the look they want without damaging their skin and risking the devastating skin cancer, Melanoma.

Recently I have been reading many amazing skin cancer survivor and encouraging real life stories over at the La Roche-Posay Facebook fan page where they are sharing awareness through their “Save Lives!” program.  Read through these inspiring real life skin cancer stories on the La Roche-Posay Facebook fan page  and vote for your favorite most inspired story.  We’d appreciate help with raising awareness of sun protection by voting, you have until JULY 15^th! Head over to the La Roche-Posay website to check out the line of products available for your family and “like” their Facebook page for weekly sun tips that you and your family can really use.

Did you know that 78,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year? 5,500 of those cases will be skin cancer’s deadliest form, Melanoma.  La Roche-Posay, the #1 Dermatologist recommended skin care brand, needs your help to raise sun protection awareness with Save Lives!  The objective is to raise awareness of melanoma and the importance of sun protection and early detection. Remember 90% of skin cancers can be cured if detected early enough and Canadians can visit MySkinCheck.ca for tools and resources needed to check themselves for early signs of skin cancer.  Feel free to read on for the hard facts of sun protection.
The FACTS:

>> Your skin is damaged after 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to the sun

>> You  need to use a golf ball-sized amount of sunscreen to adequately protect yourself from head to toe

>> 43% of individuals only apply sunscreen when the sun is very intense

>> 36% of Canadians think having a tan is important

>> Melanoma represents 1/3 of all new cancers – one of the fastest growing cancers worldwide

>> In North America, one person dies from melanoma every hour

>> 1 in 7 Canadians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime

>> 7 in 10 women don’t know how to properly apply sunscreen lotion

>> 4 in 10 individuals don’t use sunscreen becuase of texture