"You see some clients every month or every few months for most of their lives," a cancer specialist recently told the staff at The Loft Hair Design and Skin Care in Escondido, California. "If you observe that they continue to have a sore, or you notice that a mole looks asymmetrical, suggest that they get it looked at, even if you think it's probably benign."

The advice was part of a presentation that The Loft owner Shawna Cruise arranged. Cruise invited Kay Kimball, RN, an oncology nurse at Palomar Pomerado Health, to educate The Loft's team about the dangers of chronic sun exposure, the importance of protecting the skin from harmful UVB and UVA rays and the signs of skin cancer on their clients.

look for the signs

While curable when caught early, the 62,000 melanomas and one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed each year can turn deadly when left untreated. Kimball explained that chronic sun exposure is a big risk factor, with fair-complexioned people at particular risk.

The scalp, ears, face and neck are typical areas for non-melanoma cancers to appear, according to Kimball. "A growth that crusts and occasionally bleeds or an open sore that doesn't heal could be a typical symptom of a non-melanoma skin cancer," she explained.

tell your clients

Sunblock is effective when it protects against both UV rays and UVB rays and contains at least a 30 SPF, Kimball continued. She advised cosmetologists to recommend sunblock products to protect clients not only against skin cancer but against premature aging as well.

Warn your salon clients about skin cancer

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