Skin Cancer on Shine

User Post: OLAY REGENERIST - Get carded again!

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As one of the new Shine Beauty Gurus, I never thought I'd get the chance to look younger. At the age of 32, I'm not ancient, but I haven't gotten carded in at least five years. Two days ago, I got carded after using the Olay Regenerist products for a little over two…

Eat this fish to protect your skin from sun damage

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As a kid I used to spend my summer vacation at the beach soaking up the sun. These days, not so much—I’m way too worried about keeping my skin wrinkle-free. But my fiancé Andy’s job keeps him outside in the sun all day long. Not just in the summer, but all year round. Although he wears sunscreen, he’s kind of given up on trying to ward off wrinkles, but skin cancer? That’s scary stuff—and sunscreen can only do so much. So to help protect our skin we’re adding more of this fish to our diet...

Holy hell! Tanning beds as harmful as arsenic

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Oh My God. This is terrifying news: According to experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (the cancer specialists of the World Health Organization), sources of ultraviolet radiation--including tanning beds--are now considered top cancer risks, on par with tobacco, mustard gas, arsenic, the hepatitis B virus, and chimney sweeping*.

In an analysis of more than 20 studies, researchers concluded that ultraviolet radiation is a "definite" carcinogen and are now calling it "deadly." Yikes.

Is Your Sunscreen Doing More Harm than Good?

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Previously, I hadn't given much thought to what was in my sunscreen. As long as the SPF was high enough I figured I was safe right?

Not so much. Turns out all sunscreens are not created equal, and some of my faves actually contain harmful ingredients (like these) or not enough of the good stuff (UV protection). The non-profit Environmental Working Group recently released a list of the safest and most effective sunscreens -- and which ones you should steer clear of. Check out a few of the good and bad below (and see what regular users think of them too).

Wondering if You Should Get that Mole Checked Out?

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You know how they say you should get any "suspicious" moles checked out by a doctor? Am I the only one who finds the term "suspicious" a little vague and, well, suspicious? How the heck am I supposed to know what moles are safe and which are just cancer waiting to happen?

Luckily, there's this quiz that helps explain the difference between a normal ol' mole and one that should send you running to the dermatologist. It's so easy -- and a lot quicker than a stint in a doctor's waiting room (there are only so many back issues of Self magazine a person can read, am I right?).

Just take a glance at your moles and answer a few questions. It'll put your mind at ease, or let you know if there's a derm visit in your near future. Here's a sample:

Take care of your skin.......I wish I had!

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About a month ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma. Within 24 hours of the diagnosis, I was prepped and ready for surgery - the doctor ended up taking an approximately 8cm diameter's worth of tissue from around my right shoulder blade. That was about 6 weeks ago (and I…

Melanoma Fast Facts

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How to save your own life

-Susan Crandell, BettyConfidential.com I saved my husband's life. Two times. That's pretty powerful stuff (and occasionally he's grateful…

User Post: Sunscreen Sense

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'Tis the season to lather up...here's all you need to know about protecting your skin this summer

-Susan Crandell, BettyConfidential.com There's not a woman in America who…

The Best and Worst Cities for Your Skin

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Blemishes or crows feet got you down? Instead of dialing up your derm, maybe you should be consulting a realtor. We looked into such fun aspects as pollution, humidity, sunshine and tanning bed usage to find the places where you're most likely to have glowing skin like this celeb … and the ones where you're more likely to look like this one.

So what does this mean? We're not saying if you live in a worst-skin city you automatically have bad skin (thank goodness for genetics and skin care products like these), just that you've got the odds against you. Check out the lists, maybe it's time to call the movers?