Once you understand the essential components for healthy
skin, you will be well equipped to take care of your skin. Knowledge Self-Examination The National Cancer Institute recommends these steps
for checking your skin for signs of cancer. After a bath or shower,
use a full-length or hand-held mirror to check all areas—including
your hands, feet, nails, back, scalp, buttocks and genitals. Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror,
then raise your arms and look at the left and right sides. Bend your elbows and look carefully at your palms,
your forearms, including the undersides, and your upper arms. Examine the back and front of your legs. Also look
between the buttocks and around the genital area. Sit and closely examine your feet, including the
soles and the spaces between the toes. Look at your face, neck and scalp. You may want to
use a comb to move hair so that you can see better. Protection Sunscreen Tips Nurturing
The first step to good skin health is being knowledgeable about
your brown skin. We clearly know that the melanin
in brown skin distinguishes it from the skin of others. There are several
other distinctive but normal characteristics that may be present in
women with brown skin. These include:
The second step to good brown skin health is regular skin self-examination.
In general, brown skin is less susceptible to skin
cancer, but when it does strike, it is often more deadly than in
other skin types. Women of color (and men) must first be aware that
they are indeed at risk for skin cancer and that early detection is
important. Once every month, your skin must be examined from head to
toe, paying particular attention to your hands, fingers, feet, toes,
nails and mouth, where melanoma type skin cancers are more likely to
appear in people of color. Look for dark brown or black spots in these
areas no matter how small. Pay particular attention to new spots or
spots that change. The change can be an increase in size, shape or color
or a raised bump that develops within the spot. A bump on the foot or
toe that is sore or does not heal is another tip off for skin cancer.
Be on the lookout for dark streaks or lines along one fingernail or
toenail only. If you find anything unusual, any area that you think
might have changed or any particularly dark or irregular spot, see your
dermatologist right away.
The third step in ensuring healthy brown skin is protection from the
sun. Though the average woman with brown skin has a natural SPF of 13
(which means you can stay in the sun without burning 13 times longer
than a woman with white skin), we still need to include sunscreen in
our daily skin care routine for healthy skin. Sunscreens work by absorbing
the harmful ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays before
they can affect the skin. Sunblocks create a protective barrier that
reflects UV rays, causing them to bounce off the skin. For most women
of color, a sunscreen with an SPF 15 (which means you can stay in the
sun 15 times longer without burning) is sufficient, but if you have
certain medical conditions, such as lupus, or take certain medications,
or have dark marks or skin discolorations, you may need a sunscreen
with an SPF 30. Look for broad-spectrum products containing ingredients
that protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
The final step to care for healthy brown skin is to nurture your skin. It is
important to avoid irritants that may stimulate the production of excessive
melanin. Ingredients in soaps, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, astringents,
anti-aging products, and anti-acne agents to name just a few, are possible
irritants. The following is a list of potential irritants to avoid:
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