Raising Awareness for Skin Cancer
- RHOC‘s Shannon Beador, 58, has been using her celebrity status for good after revealing to fans that she just had skin cancer, which she fortunately caught early.
- The reality star had some skin removed from her shoulder, and urges fans to get in and get their skin checked.
- Using high-SPF sunscreen responsibly and frequently, along with avoiding the sun during peak hours, are two important ways that you can prevent skin cancer.
“Just had skin cancer cut out,” Beador wrote on her Instagram, with a picture displayed of her bandaged shoulder. “I had a scab that never healed. Make sure to get regular skin checks!”
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
Beador recently announced that the pup “has not been doing well for the last few months,” and had asked for love and support, explaining that he has been so sad amid his health crises. “We are taking Archie to our vet and a specialist to get him better, but it is difficult,” she said. “We are told his immune system is shot.”
Thankfully, it appears that both Archie and Beador are on the mend.
Shannon Beador’s Family Life
Fans of the Real Housewives shows know that the ladies don’t technically have to be housewives, and in this case, Beador is not.
The Bel Air, Calif. native is dating insurance brokerage VP John Janssen, 56, whom she started dating in 2019 after divorcing her husband of 19 years, David Beador, 57, a Newport Beach-based entrepreneur.
View this post on Instagram
On RHOC‘s season 16 reunion, Beador addressed whether she would marry again.
“We do talk about it but it’s not something that we need to rush to do,” she explained. “We’re happy. I have two kids that are going to be home for another year and a half, so I’m not doing anything right now.” Beador shares three daughters with her ex: Sophie, 19, their oldest, and the youngest two, Stella and Adeline, are 17-year-old twins.
Preventing Skin Cancer
As most people in Southern California know, the sun shines most days of the year and there are often warmer temps than most parts of the country, therefore it’s important to be diligent about applying sunscreen and incorporate it into their daily routine. Many people slather it on and think they are using it properly, but if you're not choosing the right type or not using enough, the reality is it may not be working.
Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends to SurvivorNet that you use no less than SPF 30 and reapply it every two hours. "Your sunscreen should also be broad spectrum," says Dr. Larocca, meaning it covers both UVB and UVA rays.
Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use it Often
One thing that many people do not know is that you only get about 50% of the SPF on the label. "So, if you're using SPF 60, you're really getting closer 30 SPF of protection," Dr. Larocca says.
To make sure you're getting the right protection, she also recommends using sunscreen every two hours and wearing protective clothing, such as a hat and sunglasses.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
For most people, there are simple ways to significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. We asked dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman to provide the top five ways to protect your skin from skin cancer. Turns out, most of her recommendations are really simple to implement, and could save your life.
- Avoid sun during peak hoursThis 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 eyesA wide brim hat and sun glasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higherThis is easy enough. Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Dr. Engelman also recommends reapplying every few hours, or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Get an annual skin checkYou 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 ASAPit is always worth it to make sure.
- Avoid tanning bedsThis one is obvious … but just a reminder, tanning beds can significantly increase your risk of developing melanoma. If you feel like you're just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman said.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.