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Dear Friends -
Two weeks ago, I strolled into my dermatologist’s office expecting the usual “see-you-next-year” stamp of approval. When she shaved off a pin-head spot from the top of my right foot—a patch of skin that practically lives in the dark—I barely paused. After a history of benign biopsies, why worry?
Then the phone rang last Friday: melanoma.
Because I stick to those annual check-ups, we caught it at the earliest, most curable stage. I’ll need a wider excision and a tiny skin graft, and I’ll trade yearly visits for quarterly ones—but my outlook is excellent. Early detection really does change the ending.
Rewind to my fair-skinned childhood in the sun-worshipping late 1970’s and early 1980s. Armed with baby oil, I roasted beside my neighborhood friend and her mom, who glistened on aluminum foil like a rotisserie chicken. I thought her bronzed body was the ultimate in glamour! And when tanning beds hit the late-’80s scene, they became my pre-prom and pre-vacation ritual. We now know better, of course; but today I’m paying the tab for that “golden glow” in my teenage years. So let’s dive into what does keep skin safe—prevention, early detection, and smarter sun habits for every season.
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Melanoma 101: why it matters
Common, but deadly: Melanoma makes up only 1% of skin-cancer cases yet causes the vast majority of skin-cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society projects ~105,000 new U.S. diagnoses and 8,400 deaths in 2025.
Early = survivable: When melanoma is still localized, 5-year survival tops 99 %; once it spreads distantly, survival plummets to <35 %.
Spot the ABCDEs:
Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Color variety
Diameter > 6 mm (pencil eraser)
Evolution (any change)
Your screening game plan
Who | What to do | How often |
|---|---|---|
Everyone | Head-to-toe self-exam (use a mirror or a partner) | Monthly |
Average-risk adults | Full-body skin exam by a board-certified dermatologist | Yearly (USPSTF says evidence is “insufficient,” but most derms still advise annual checks) |
Higher-risk (fair skin, >50 moles, family/personal history, tanning-bed use) | Dermatologist visit | Every 6–12 mo (your doctor may recommend more often) |
Post-melanoma patients | Derm + possible imaging | Every 3 mo for the first 1–2 years, then 6–12 mo |
🛠 Tools: Download the AAD’s free Body Mole Map or find a no-cost community screening near you. aad.org
Sunscreen MVPs for 2025
Dermatologists agree: the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually slather on enough (a shot-glass-size for your body, a nickel for your face) and reapply every two hours or after swimming/sweating. Below are editors’ picks from The Strategist and Wirecutter testing labs:
Face (every single day)
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 – lightweight hybrid that disappears under makeup and calms redness.
Supergoop! Unseen SPF 40 – silicone-smooth primer feel for those who hate “sunscreen texture.”
Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 – sheer, dewy finish with zero white cast on melanated skin.
Lips (most-forgotten spot)
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 – editor favorite for taste, staying power, and broad-spectrum protection.
Supergoop! just launched a new Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm with Peptides and Shea Butter. It’s on the way to my condo from Sephora as I type!
Body / beach days
Banana Boat Light As Air SPF 50+ – Wirecutter’s top chemical pick: fast-absorbing, budget-friendly, water-resistant 80 min.
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50+ – dermatologist-loved zinc formula; bottle turns blue in UV light (handy reminder).
EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50 – hybrid lotion that won’t drip into eyes when you sweat (The Strategist’s overall winner).
Pro tip: stash a brush-on mineral powder (e.g., Colorescience SPF 50) in your bag for on-the-go top-ups over makeup.
Beyond lotion: your sun-safe toolkit
UPF clothing: Brands like Coolibar and Solumbra weave SPF 50 right into lightweight fabrics so you don’t need to layer chemicals on every square inch.
Hats that actually help: Look for a 3-inch brim or more; the Coolibar Zoey reversible hat hits UPF 50 and packs flat for travel.
Sunglasses: UV-blocking lenses protect not only eyes but the delicate skin around them.
Shade strategy: Treat 10 a.m.–4 p.m. like “skin rush hour” and plan errands, workouts, or picnics for morning or later afternoon.
Tech assist: Free UV-index apps ping you when levels climb into the “high” zone so you can re-slather or head indoors.
Hydrate & chill: Heat stress makes sunburn recovery harder; sip water, mist your skin, and seek AC breaks on extreme-UV days.
Anti-aging: Another Benefit of Sunscreen
Daily, broad-spectrum sunscreen isn’t only a cancer shield—it’s the most proven topical anti-aging treatment we have. In a landmark four-and-a-half-year Australian RCT of more than 900 adults, participants who applied SPF 15+ every morning (and reapplied) showed 24 % less wrinkling, sagging, and mottling than those who used sunscreen only “when needed.” Follow-up research has gone a step further: a one-year study of daily SPF 30 use documented 40–52 % improvements in skin texture, clarity, and discoloration—evidence that consistent UV blocking not only prevents collagen breakdown but gives skin the breathing room to repair existing damage. Translation: no peptide serum or pricey laser rivals the youth-preserving power of a plain old dollop of sunscreen applied—liberally—every single day.
Your summer, upgraded (not cancelled)
Sun protection isn’t about hiding inside—it’s about staying in the game longer. Slip on that UPF shirt before kayaking, keep a travel-size sunscreen in every tote, and make your next dermatologist appointment today while it’s top-of-mind.
My melanoma was a plot twist, but it doesn’t get to steal my summer—or yours. Here’s to shady patios, SPF-slicked shoulders, and many seasons of healthy, worry-free adventure ahead.
Stay sun-smart, stay safe, and keep living your brightest Act Three.
Cara Gray
Third Act Consultant, CPRC, CEPA™️
P.S. If you want to start planning your third act, set up a time on my calendar for a chat: Schedule a Chat with Cara