Hugh Jackman, skin cancer survivor and “Wolverine” star, turned up on Instagram Friday dressed like a Christmas gift tied up with a bow. From his comment, it sounds like the sweater — which can definitely be added to the season’s “Ugly Sweater” hall of fame — came as a dare from Jackman’s pal, Ryan Reynolds.
“I can’t believe I agreed to wear the matching underwear too,” Jackman writes.
Read MoreFirst Diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma in 2013
The jovial Aussie star — now appearing on Broadway in “The Music Man — has remained upbeat since his first basal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 2013. Since then, he’s gone through six bouts with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is caused by sun exposure. With 4 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year, BCC is the most commonly occurring cancer here.Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent checks & amazing doctors, all’s well. Looks worse w the dressing on then off! WEARSUNSCREEN
Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 13, 2017
Skin Cancer: Protection and Prevention
SurvivorNet asked dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman to provide the top five ways to protect skin from skin cancer. Turns out, most of her recommendations are really simple to implement, and might just save a life.
- Avoid the 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 sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher: This is easy enough. Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Dr. Engelman also recommended reapplying every few hours, or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- 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/s always worth it to make sure.
- Avoid tanning beds: 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.
The Gold Standard for Skin Cancer: Mohs Surgery
"The gold standard for treatment of melanoma is surgical treatment with wide margins," says Dr. Nima Gharavi, director of Dermatologic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. In some cases of early-stage melanoma that is close to the skin surface, Mohs surgery might be offered at some institutions. Mohs surgery is a microscopically controlled surgery that removes skin cancer by conservatively cutting along the entire margin until the surgeon reaches clear tissue. It's most often used to remove other skin cancers like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
