<h1> Stand up tanning - How do you plead?</h1>

My vacation usually results in a sunburn - a very expensive sunburn, especially with the dollar at 79 cents vs the greenback. This year, I liberally smeared myself with sunscreen to avoid a burn. Why? Because my wife and dermatologist told me to do so.....Then.....I got added impetus when I read the following

SYDNEY, Australia — A new study suggests that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have about a 4-fold increased risk for development of malignant melanoma, underscoring the importance of dermatologic screening in PD, the researchers say.

Radu Constantinescu, MD, from the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, presented the study here June 18 at the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) 17th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders.

Prior studies have shown that the overall risk for cancer in patients with PD is lower but the risk for malignant melanoma is higher compared with the general population.

This is no myth. It is time to bathe in sunscreen. My dermatolgist told me

• use spf of greater than 50
• best if there is zinc in it
• wear long sleeved shirts
• wear a hat
• don't be seduced by shade, the UV rays reflect off of surfaces onto your body
• if you go into the water, reapply when you get out
• reapply every few hours
• use creams rather than oils or spray ons
• remember, only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

Unfortunately, this morning, during an hour walk in bright sunlight, I neglected to apply my sunscreen (spf 18)but I did not burn; rather, I came down with a smooth, pre-cancerous shade of brown with the possibility of facial cracks and alligator skin.

If, like George Hamilton IV, you like to tan, you should read the following

1. There is no such thing as a safe tan. The increase in skin pigment, called melanin, which causes the tan color change in your skin is a sign of damage.
2. Once skin is exposed to UV radiation, it increases the production of melanin in an attempt to protect the skin from further damage. Melanin is the same pigment that colors your hair, eyes, and skin. The increase in melanin may cause your skin tone to darken over the next 48 hours.
3. Skin tones that are capable of developing a tan, typically skin types II through V, will probably darken in tone within two days.
4. Evidence suggests that tanning greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer. And, contrary to popular belief, getting a tan will not protect your skin from sunburn or other skin damage. The extra melanin in tanned skin provides a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of about 2 to 4; far below the minimum recommended SPF of 15.

Exposure to the sun can also cause premature aging.
1. Sometimes referred to as “photoaging,” premature aging is the result of unprotected UV exposure. It takes the form of leathery, wrinkled skin, and dark spots.
2. Although the causes of premature aging are not always clear, unprotected exposure to harmful UV rays break down the collagen and elastin fibers in healthy young skin, and cause wrinkles and loosened folds. Frequent sunburns or hours spent tanning can result in a permanent darkening of the skin, dark spots, and a leathery texture.
3. Symptoms:
   • Wrinkles
   Dark spots
   • Leathery skin
4. Premature aging is a long-term side effect of UV exposure, meaning it may not show on your skin until many years after you have had a sunburn or suntan. Avoiding UV exposure is essential to maintaining healthy skin.

Read more here

What is my conclusion - Stay out of the sun or use a liberal dose of sun screen idiot. Who needs malignant melanoma? Who needs to be cool shade of brown while lying in your grave.

The juice is definitely not worth the squeeze.

PS - I think George Hamilton IV has died but his famous tan was not the reason - rather, heart problems.

Postscript ---- I have just been informed by my good friend, Gale, that "George Hamilton IV (the country singer) did indeed die of heart problems, but George Hamilton (the actor) and famous suntanner is still alive and well (and tanned).