Do you know how healthy your skin is? Some of the factors to think about include:

Your age: due to years of sun exposure, people over 50 have the highest risk of developing skin cancer, especially men.

Your skin tone: easily burned skin may make you more likely to develop skin cancer and people with darker skin color are more likely not to be diagnosed until their cancer has reached late stage. Make sure to regularly self-check your arms, legs, palms, and soles and get an annual exam.

Your hair and eye color: people whose hair & eyes have more melanin in them (darker colored) tend to be at less risk than those with lighter eyes and hair. Melanin is the chemical in your body that creates darker pigmentation in your hair, eyes, and skin. High levels of melanin help protect you from UVB rays.

Having lots of freckles or moles: while freckles aren’t a danger on their own, they are a sign of sun damage. Freckles are a result of your body producing more melanin to protect you from further sun damage. Freckles gained from sunburns especially are associated with a higher risk of skin cancer.

Do you wear sunscreen?: even when it's not very sunny out, your body is still exposed to UV rays. Always wear a sunscreen with SPF 30+ when you plan to be in direct sunlight, and reapply regularly. TEENAGED SUNBURN: research indicates that multiple bad burns during the teen years can raise your risk of developing skin cancer as much as 80%! It's never too early for kids to learn about skin health.

Smoking: carcinogens like those found in some insecticides, tobacco smoke, and tainted drinking water can put you at a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Try to limit your exposure to these kinds of chemicals as much as possible.

Family: genetics play a role in determining someone's risk of skin cancer. If a family member has previously been diagnosed with skin cancer, you are at a higher risk of developing it than someone without a family history of skin cancer.

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Our experts offer online/Zoom skin care consultations and we will curate a skin care regimen ESPECIALLY FOR YOU! Email us at jennifer@myzenskincare.com and we’ll get your appointment set up.

We hope you have a great day!