Actress Sofia Vergara has taken to social media to set an example on how you should be taking care of your skin.
The "Modern Family" star shared a backless picture of herself on Twitter and Instagram getting checked out at her doctor's office. The Colombian actress is familiar with cancer, as she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 28. Vergara underwent surgery and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the operation. The 40-year-old has affiliated herself with a campaign to raise awareness about thyroid cancer.
Her timing couldn't be more perfect, as May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Vergara has asked her fans to follow her footsteps and get screened for potential melanomas. Just for a frame of reference: Skin cancer is the most common cancer and it affects one million Americans each year. That said, the Skin Cancer Foundation reveals that skin cancer is also the easiest type of cancer to cure if diagnosed and treated early.
While sun safety practices are important for everyone, it is especially important to Latinos and Hispanics, who often think they are safe from skin cancer. According to a recent study from researchers at UMDNJ, the skin cancer prevention interventions that target the U.S. Hispanic community is lacking. The study, published in BMC Public Health, found that while sun protection and exposure behaviors varied based on an individuals specific origin, there are many Hispanic subpopulations that need to be represented in skin cancer interventions. For example, those of Mexican heritage are more likely to experience sunburns (and thus, should be informed) and have a higher rate of using sun protective clothing.
"Compared to non-Hispanic whites, when diagnosed with melanoma, Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with more advanced disease and have lower melanoma-specific survival rates ," write the authors of the study. "The melanoma incidence among Hispanics increased by 19% from 1992 to 2008. Skin cancer prevention interventions that target specific population subgroups such as Hispanics are lacking. Hispanics are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States and represent an important population for heightened skin cancer prevention efforts."
If you want to follow suit, then perform a routine self-exam on your face, scalp, extremities and torso and make an appointment with your doctor if you see anything suspicious. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that people conduct a self-examination from head to toe every month. Their other recommendations include: seeking shade between 10 am to 4 pm, avoiding tanning and UV tanning booths, and using a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher every day. They advise applying sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving the house and reapplying every two hours.
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