Don’t lie to me — you started singing that first line, didn’t you?
The fact is, while sunshine blesses us with much-needed vitamin D, it also brings something we don’t need — harmful, damaging, cancer-causing rays.
Did you know that skin cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for approximately 5% of all cancer fatalities? In the U.S., melanoma — the most aggressive form of skin cancer — is the second leading cause of cancer death among young adults (ages 15–29) and the fifth leading cause overall. While non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are generally less deadly, they still contribute significantly to skin cancer cases and deaths.
Of all the different types of cancer, skin cancer may be one of the easiest to prevent. Sunscreen is a must — but let’s be honest — it’s often skipped because it’s messy, greasy, or stains clothes. So imagine my delight when my daughter introduced me to powder sunscreen. Say what?! Yes — a sunscreen that fits neatly in my purse or my husband’s lunchbox and applies cleanly, without the need to wash your hands afterward. It’s perfect for the tops of his ears — always exposed and especially vulnerable to sun damage. Best of all? It’s easy to find on Amazon at a great price with multiple strength options. You better believe it went in my next order!
Now, back to why sunshine cost me so much money…
Here’s the thing: some insurance plans don’t cover dermatology screenings as preventive care — and a simple skin check can cost several hundred dollars! So, if you’re looking for a dermatologist, it definitely pays to shop around.
Still, it was money well spent. My husband had a suspicious little spot — no bigger than a pinhead — removed from his ear. A biopsy confirmed what we feared: it was cancerous.
My goal in sharing this personal story is to remind our readers about the dangers of sun exposure and how important it is to be proactive with prevention. It is so easy to make excuses for not using sun protection, but product advances such as sunscreen powder make it more convenient to do so and eliminates the excuses we so often use. Please take sun safety seriously and stay proactive with skin checks, because early detection truly makes all the difference.
