The practice of “perenium sunning,” or taking in the sun through one’s genitals, has recently gone viral. As SurvivorNet reported, however, it’s a highly questionable practice that doctors say could increase the risk of skin cancer. But that didn’t stop Josh Brolin, 51, from trying it out.
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The craze began when a California woman who goes by the name of “Metaphysical Meagan” touted the benefits of perenium sunning in an Instagram post that went viral.
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.
“For the past few weeks I have included sunning my bum & yoni [flower emoji] into my daily rising routine,” she wrote.
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," explained Dr. Anna Pavlick, an oncologist at NYU Langone Health, in a previous interview.
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 told SurivorNet that doing regular self-checks on your skin is important to find skin cancer early. If you're high-risk, it's especially vital. She recommended 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 said 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 said if you've had early-stage melanoma you should have a skin exam every three to six months. She noted as well that you should 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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