How do you cope with the New Mexico Sun with fair skin? - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

nmnita · 10-11-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxart

I never could understand the 'tanning bed' popularity. And many people still think nothing of 'sunning' at the beach. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of contradictory hoopla of late about the NEED for getting more Vitamin D by spending time in the sun. I take a supplement instead, even though I live in a very sunny clime.

I agree and we have a family situation that is sad..Our oldest daughter is very fair, probably fairer than her parents, she is a redhead with freckles and has used the tanning bed plus was a competitive swimmer in Ca when no one even knew what sun screen was. Now, she turned 50 yesterday and has had 2 melanomas (spelling) removed in a little over a year. Luckily neither had spread. My husband has also had a couple removed.

Nita

songinthewind7 · 10-11-2009, 07:24 PM

I have the same skin tone and hair as your daughter and I spent the 70's baking in the sun like an idiot and I've had a couple of skin cancers removed. I get checked every couple of years and I'm careful in the sun now.

nmnita · 10-12-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by songinthewind7

I have the same skin tone and hair as your daughter and I spent the 70's baking in the sun like an idiot and I've had a couple of skin cancers removed. I get checked every couple of years and I'm careful in the sun now.

As we are getting older we are checked about every 3 to 6 months, Pat more often than me. Our daughter is checked every 3 months plus now they have a new method. It is mole imaging, but her insurance company doesn't want to pay because the company in Texas that does it is listed as a cosmetic dematology clinic. She will see what her regular doctor recommends.

Didn't we all worship the sun. Being raised in So Ca it was very important every Monday during the warm season to come to school with a tan or a burn, most of us a burn. I guess it is like the smoking. If we didn't smoke, at least by college we were pretty weird.

Nita

songinthewind7 · 10-12-2009, 11:00 AM

I'm 50 and the dermatoligist (sp) told me a few years ago when I had the cancers removed to be checked yearly but when I went back the next year, it was a different doctor and he told me every 2 years.
I still get a little burned here if I'm not careful but it's not nearly as bad as I used to burn, and like you said nmnita, it was popular to have a tan or a burn back in school.

jaxart · 10-12-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by songinthewind7

I'm 50 and the dermatoligist (sp) told me a few years ago when I had the cancers removed to be checked yearly but when I went back the next year, it was a different doctor and he told me every 2 years.

My own rule is to return in six months once I have a cancer removed. If there is no additional problem, then I stretch it to one year. But going two years can be problematic if you have a history of more than one cancer. The sooner the problem is treated, the less the chance of complications - goes without saying, I suppose.

Fiddlehead · 10-12-2009, 06:46 PM

Thank everyone,

I really appreciate all the feedback. I was in ABQ last month, and I was shocked by the strength of the sun,even early in the morning. Strange as it sounds, due to low sun angle, low temps, and cloud cover, we do not think much about sun in the winter months here in SW Oregon. That is about 6 months per year. In the summer it can certainly get very sunny and hard on the skin. In NM, it would seem that sun is a constant, but I think your guidance would be helpful.

songinthewind7 · 10-12-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxart

My own rule is to return in six months once I have a cancer removed. If there is no additional problem, then I stretch it to one year. But going two years can be problematic if you have a history of more than one cancer. The sooner the problem is treated, the less the chance of complications - goes without saying, I suppose.

This thread reminds me that I need to go again. I have a habit of putting off doctor visits.

jaxart · 10-13-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

In the summer it can certainly get very sunny and hard on the skin. In NM, it would seem that sun is a constant, but I think your guidance would be helpful.

And don't forget about ALTITUDE! The higher the elevation at which one lives, the less filtering by atmosphere there is of the harmful UV rays, and the more important it becomes to limit skin exposure.

Question for Song: Where is your dermatologist located and is he/she an M.D. or a D.O.?

I have had trouble finding a good dermatologist anywhere close by who is an M.D. Which has meant, in the past, traveling to Las Cruces - until that M.D. gave up his practice. Now I travel to El Paso. I won't trust my health care to anyone who isn't an M.D.

songinthewind7 · 10-13-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxart

And don't forget about ALTITUDE! The higher the elevation at which one lives, the less filtering by atmosphere there is of the harmful UV rays, and the more important it becomes to limit skin exposure.

Question for Song: Where is your dermatologist located and is he/she an M.D. or a D.O.?

I have had trouble finding a good dermatologist anywhere close by who is an M.D. Which has meant, in the past, traveling to Las Cruces - until that M.D. gave up his practice. Now I travel to El Paso. I won't trust my health care to anyone who isn't an M.D.

He was in San Antonio, Tx. I don't have one here yet. He was a D.O.