In the latest case of a social media “influencer” messing around with actual science, an Instagram post from a California woman who goes by the name of “Metaphysical Meagan” that touts the benefits of “perenium sunning," or taking in the sun through one’s genitals, has gone viral. She claims that the practice has enormous health benefits, but be warned: Doctors say it could increase the risk of skin cancer.
In the post, Meagan, whose Instagram bio includes the monikers “healer,” “teacher” and “Tantrika,” lies on her back in order to take the sun in through her vulva and buttocks.
Read More“Many of you have been asking about the benefits of this practice,” she continues before enumerating the many benefits she claims to have experienced, including “surges in energy” and “connection to my sexual energy.” She claims the practice “is truly more energizing than slamming cups of coffee and is a great alternative to consuming neurotoxic coffee & caffeine that can disrupt your adrenal gland health.”
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Megan has since posted photos of herself sunning in the nude, all of which tout “heath benefits” without addressing the risk of skin cancer.
The sun and skin cancer
Ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun — including excessive amounts of sun you experienced as a child.
Dr. Anna Pavlick, an oncologist at NYU Langone Health why the sun is not your friend when it comes to skin cancer
"Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body," explains Dr. Anna Pavlick, an oncologist at NYU Langone Health.
Melanoma can develop from an existing mole or it can appear as a dark or pink growth on the skin — and it can appear in places that were never exposed to the sun.
The good news: You can modify your risk going forward by limiting your time in the sun and by using sunscreen. An Australian study found that by wearing sunscreen daily over a 10-year period, the risk of melanoma was reduced by 50%.
Remember to Get Screened
Dr. Cecilia Larocca of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute says doing regular self-checks on your skin is important to find skin cancer early. If you're high-risk, it's especially vital. She recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious.
Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a Dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on how sunscreen can help protect against skin cancer.
Dr. Larocca says those who have had melanoma are still at risk of a recurrence (unless you have melanoma in situ, which is considered cured once removed). Melanoma may recur in many different areas but it's commonly found in the soft tissues of the skin, which might appear as a lump. Melanoma can also appear in other parts of the body besides the skin, and in organs like the lungs or the brain, she says.
Recurrence can depend on what stage you have, so there are various screening recommendations. Dr. Larocca says if you've had early-stage melanoma you should have a skin exam every three to six months. She says you should also report any symptoms such as a headache, changes in vision, cough, fatigue or weight loss. If you had late-stage melanoma, in addition to regular skin exams also every three to six months you may also need imaging, and sometimes blood work, to monitor for any signs of recurrence.
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