Published Aug 3, 2021

Bandaged Hugh Jackman, 52, Reveals New Skin Cancer Scare and Biopsy: ‘Please Get Skin Checks Often’

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Hugh Jackman Assures Fans He's Okay

In a new video posted to Instagram, Aussie actor and skin cancer survivor Hugh Jackman wears a bandage on his nose and talks about a recent biopsy; he urges people to wear sunscreen.
Jackman first developed skin cancer in 2013 and has battled the disease six times.
Minimize your skin cancer risk by wearing daily sunscreen, as Jackman suggests in the video.

Wolverine star and Aussie actor, Hugh Jackman, is urging people to take care of their skin and get it checked; the skin cancer survivor just had another biopsy done.

In the short video posted to Instagram, Jackman wears a mask and a bandage over his nose, and addresses fans and followers directly. Captioning it, he writes, “A couple of notes â€¦ please get skin checks often, please don't think it won't happen to you and, above all, please wear sunscreen.”

The star of Broadways’ upcoming The Music Man says candidly, “Hey guys, I just want to let you know, I just went to see Lisa and Trevor, my amazing dermatologists and doctors. They saw something that was a little irregular, so they took a biopsy. I'm getting it checked.”

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He continues, assuring his fans that he’s okay, and that they should wear sunscreen. “So if you see a shot of me, with this [bandage on my nose], don't freak out. Thank you for your concern. I'll let you know what's going on. They think it's probably fine. But just remember: Come and get a check. And wear sunscreen. Don't be like me as a kid. Just wear sunscreen.”

Hugh’s Skin Cancer Battle

Jackman is a seasoned skin cancer fighter and survivor. He was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013, and he’s successfully battled it six times. As a result, Jackman is clearly extra conscientious about his skin, and maintaining good skin health. It’s inspiring to see.

The actor was previously diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, or "BCC." This is the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer in the U.S.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Jackman's most recent battle with basal cell carcinoma was in 2017.

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

How to Protect Your Skin from Cancer

We love how Jackman uses his star power to encourage others to take care of their health, particularly their skin the body’s largest organ, and the most common body part diagnosed with cancer.

In an earlier interview, dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman outlines five easy ways to protect your skin, and lower your skin cancer risk. She tells us:

Avoid sun during peak hours. This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you do venture outdoors.
Cover your skin and eyes. A wide brim hat and sun glasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
Reiterating Jackman’s advice, she says: Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Reapply often.
Get an annual skin check. You can check your own skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to make sure you didn't miss anything. If you do happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about it ASAP it is always worth it to make sure.
Avoid tanning beds. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman says.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

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