American history buffs know the sad but true story of William Henry Harrison’s short tenure as President. Mr. Harrison chose not to wear a hat to his inauguration; he caught pneumonia and died within the month. Twenty or so years ago – sometime during the Reagan administration – I created a hangtag for our stores that read “Hats Are Healthy”. By it, I meant not against the cold but rather against the harmful effects of the sun. I quoted two agencies (see the tag at the Great Hats For the Great Outdoors page at our site). I was ambivalent about these tags because on the one hand, I wanted to call people’s attention to the need to put on sunscreen and wear hats (and other protective clothing), but on the other, I felt guilty profiting from fear. Furthermore, our hat business had been successful because our stores were fun and although the “hats are healthy” message was valid, I didn’t want to overemphasize it. (An atmosphere of a serious clinic was an unproven model for a successful hat shop.) In any case, I figured that in short order most people would get the message anyway and be wearing hats, along with sunscreen, and therefore, calling attention to headwear as protective clothing would soon be as unnecessary as calling attention to the merits of sunscreen.

Two decades have passed since that hangtag. I go out and about in life as we know it and the fact of the matter is that most people are still not getting the message – not wearing hats. And I live in San Diego – where there’s lots of sun. So here’s the current data: The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2007 there will be more than 1,000,000 new cases of skin (non-melanoma) cancer in the United States and less than 2,000 deaths. NCI also estimates 59,940 new cases of melanoma (a form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytyes – the cells that make the pigment melanin) in 2007. Of those, NCI estimates 8,110 deaths. When asked about the effectiveness of sunscreens in preventing cancer, Dr. Kenneth Kraemer, a dermatologist researching skin cancer for NCI’s Center for Cancer Research replied, “Sun protection is more than sunscreens. Sun protection includes avoiding the sun, using clothing to protect yourself, getting shade under a tree if you are going outside, and wearing hats”.

As we enter spring 2007, I’ve decided it may be important to amplify the alarm.

Fred Belinsky
http://www.VillageHatShop.com

Fred Belinsky is the founder and president of The Village Hat Shop. The 4-store California chain is 27 years old. VillageHatShop.com, launched in early 1997, was the first online hat seller. Belinsky also owns and operates Berets.com. Private label brands include Jaxon Hats, JaxonHats.com, and sur la tete. More of Belinsky’s articles can be seen at his HAT BLOG, http://blog.villagehatshop.com/

VillageHatShop.com also publishes THE COWBOY HAT, http://vilhat.typepad.com/the_cowboy_hat/, an ezine featuring short fiction, essays, and poetry about the American West and the Mexican-American Border.

If you don’t know by now: Wear Your Sunscreen! Suncreen with SPF 15 or higher can significantly reduce the possibility of melanomas, the malignant tumors that contribute to skin cancer. The good news is that melanomas, when recognized and treated early, are almost 100% curable. The big problem with malignant melanomas lies in their being ignored, undetected or untreated, causing the cancer to spread elsewhere in the body. In 2007, the United States population is estimated at encountering close to 60,000 new instances of melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society.

Self-examination is the best way to combat these melanomas. Your Dermatologist can provide professional care annually and instruct you on how to competently check your body for melanomas. These self-exams should be performed monthly, looking out for two kinds of moles, normal moles (round, brown blemishes or “beauty marks”) and dysplastic nevi (atypical moles). If there is a history of melanoma in your family, you are at a greater risk for skin cancer. There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Self-examination gives you a higher chance of catching unusual moles and potentially saving your life. If, upon examining, you find any moles that are raised, bleeding, oddly shaped or different than the last time you checked them, see your Dermatologist immediately. A good rule of thumb is to follow the skin cancer ABCDE rule.

A- asymmetry: look for abnormalities in symmetry – does it look the same on both sides?

B-border: blurry, uneven or rough edges in an early melanoma

C- color- multi colored moles or moles that have changed color. Moles can range from brown, black, tan, red, white, blue, pink, purple or gray.

D- diameter- Melanomas are typically larger than your average mole, about the size of a pencil eraser or larger than 1-4 “ in diameter.

E- Elevation/Evolving- any mole that has an uneven surface, is raised or changes in color, shape or size should be brought to your doctor’s attention. Additionally, bleeding, scabbing or itching are also warning signs of potential melanoma.

Men and women should pay close attention to areas of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the most sun including the chest, neck, tips of the ears, face, hands, back and lower legs, forearms and shoulders. Dangerous UVA and UVB rays from the sun and repeated exposure to these rays can effectuate skin cancer. If you live in a very sunny climate, like Australia, Arizona or Florida you are at a higher risk for skin cancer. If you have experienced major sunburns as a child, this can also be a contributing factor. It is very important to shield yourself from the sun with protective clothing, high SPF sunscreen (15, 30 or higher) and wear it on your face daily. Even in Winter! If you have pale skin, are susceptible to sunburns, have light-colored eyes, work outside in the sun often, use tanning booths, or have many existing moles you are at a higher risk of contracting skin cancer. People who have had chemotherapy or diseases such as HIV, lymphoma or other immune system destructive diseases are also at a higher risk for melanoma.

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Skin cancer is diagnosed more often than all other cancers combined. In 2006, more than 62,000 people in the United States discovered they had this cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 9,000 people died from it.

Ultraviolet or UV rays are to skin cancer what smoking is to lung cancer-a highly avoidable cancer-causing agent. Excessive sun exposure is the cause for most of this. Other risk factors include exposure to coal, arsenic or radium, multiple moles, having a fair complexion and experiencing severe sunburns as a child.

There are two types. Non-melanomas are the most common type and the most treatable. This type rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Non-melanoma is found often on the head and neck. Exposure to UV rays is often the cause of non-melanoma cancer.

The second type is melanoma. This begins in the melanocytes, or the cells that produce color or pigment. Melanoma skin cancer can be found anywhere. According to the American Cancer Society, men most likely find this on their trunk while women usually discover it on their legs. Melanoma is the most fatal of the two types. It can spread to other parts of the body.

Skin cancer can be cured if it is caught early. It is recommended that you check yourself once a month. Look at yourself in a bright room in front of a mirror. Examine your skin closely and note the look of moles, freckles and blemishes.

What kind of changes should you look for to determine if you are at risk for skin cancer. Here are a few signs:

* If a mole has changed color
* Dark coloring that has exceeded the mole or mark
* Oozing of bleeding
* Itchiness, tenderness or pain

Several treatments are available. You physician may chose to cut the melanoma completely out. You will have stitches and a scar after the excision. If you doctor has confirmed melanoma, he will want you to come back so he can cut skin around it. This will let you and your physician know if the skin cancer has spread.

The best way to deter this is to monitor your time in the sun. Here are several recommendations to keep you skin cancer-free:

* Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its brightest.
* If you have to be outdoors, look for the shade.
* Cover up as much of your skin as possible.
* Use a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor of SPF 14.

Following these recommendations and keeping a eye on suspicious moles and marks can greatly reduce your chances of getting skin cancer.

For more information on cancer try visiting http://www.cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on skin cancer.

Melanoma is a cancerous growth of melanocytes that produce melanin. The type of melanoma that typically affects the toenail is acral lentiginous melanoma. In the United States, acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) accounts for about 5% of all diagnosed melanomas. It also is the most common form of melanoma in Asians and people with dark skin, accounting for 50% of melanomas that occur in people with these skin types.

ALM is sometimes referred to as a “hidden melanoma” because these lesions occur on parts of the body not easily examined or not thought necessary to examine. ALM develops on the palms, soles, mucous membranes (such as those that line the mouth, nose, and female genitals), and underneath or near fingernails and toenails.

ALM is often overlooked until it is well advanced because in the early stages, it often looks like a bruise or nail streak. Here is what it usually looks like on each area of the body:

• Palm or sole – Melanoma usually begins as an irregularly shaped tan, brown, or black spot. It is often mistakenly attributed to some recent injury — that is, the patient recalls a relatively recent bruise or blow in the general area of the pigmented spot.

• Mucous membranes – When melanoma develops on a mucus membrane, it is most likely to develop inside the nose or mouth. Early symptoms include nosebleeds and nasal stuffiness and a pigmented mass inside the mouth. Melanomas also can develop on the mucous membranes of the anus, urinary tract, and female genitalia.

• Under a nail - The first sign may be a “nail streak” — a narrow, dark stripe under the nail. ALM usually develops on the thumb or big toe; however, it can occur under any fingernail or toenail. Many individuals, especially dark-skinned people, have fixed nail streaks that are completely benign. A new nail streak not associated with recent trauma, an enlarging nail streak, a wide or very darkly pigmented streak, or a nail that is separating or lifting up from the nail bed should be examined by a dermatologist. A possible indication of advanced ALM is a nail streak with associated pigmentation in the nail fold skin or destruction of the nail plate. ALM of the fingers or toes also can develop without an obvious nail streak — particularly the non-pigmented variety. ALM may, for example, look very much like a chronic infection of the nail bed.
Some types of melanoma can be treated with surgery alone while in other cases radiation or chemotherapy may be needed. With the advances in medical treatment, melanoma of the toenail is usually curable if it is caught in the early stages.

Glossary

Acral lentiginous melanoma: A type of melanoma that affects the toenail
Dermatologist: A physician who specializes in diseases of the skin

Find more information on living with nail fungus and arcylic with nail fungus. TreatNailFungus.org is a comprehensive resource to inform individuals suffering from toenail fungus about prevention, symptoms and treatment options.