Ways To Protect Yourself From Skin Cancer (That Have Nothing To Do With Sunscreen) Blending science with soul, Dr. Keira Barr MD turns conventional methodologies on their heads so midlife women can feel comfortable in their bodies and love the skin they’re in. Dr. Barr creates a bridge between hormones, skin and mind-body medicine to optimize women’s mid-life experience. A fierce patient advocate, Dr. Barr empowers women worldwide to take control of their health and their hormones in menopause.
She is an international speaker, best selling author, clinical educator, and considered a leading authority on women’s health. As a former Assistant Clinical Professor at UC Davis in the departments of dermatology and pathology, editorial reviewer of multiple leading medical journals, medical advisor within the personal care and tech communities, and researcher in clinical trials, Dr Barr is dedicated to providing the most-cutting edge and innovative solutions for women. Her work has been featured in MindBodyGreen, Better Homes and Gardens’, Reader’s Digest, Glamour, SELF, Oprah Magazine, and more. https://drkeirabarr.com/
@drkeirabarr Drkeirabarr
Keira Barr, MD
DR. KEIRA L. BARR MD AUTHOR, SPEAKER, CLINICAL EDUCATOR, MEDICAL ADVISOR, DERMATOLOGIST, AND LEADING AUTHORITY ON WOMEN’S HEALTH Copyright Dr. Keira L. Barr MD One in five Americans will be diagnosed with
tion, and hair growth and helps your body
skin cancer during their lifetime. Many people
know when to sleep and wake up. One of the
don't know this, but skin cancer is the most
most important roles melatonin plays in skin
prevalent cancer worldwide, and in the United
health is its ability to protect it from UV radia-
States, there are more new cases of skin can-
tion. Melatonin has been shown to be a
cer than breast, prostate, lung, and colon
stronger scavenger of free radicals than vita-
cancers combined. Research shows that the
min C or vitamin E, which are both often used
incidence of melanoma in women 18 to
to treat cellular damage. As an antioxi-
39 increased 800 percent from 1970 to 2009.
dant, melatonin has a protective role against
In other words, we should all be reading up on
UVB skin damage and can block free radical
how to prevent it.
damage, decrease inflammation, and stimu-
I say this not only as a skin cancer expert and
late the formation of other potent antioxi-
dermatologist but because I am one of those
dants in the body such as glutathione and
five. And if I had known then what I know
superoxide dismutase. Translation: Getting
now, there's a chance I wouldn't have had the
quality sleep every night helps block the dam-
extreme displeasure of having to diagnose
aging effects of UV rays.
myself with the most deadly skin cancer there
2.
is: melanoma.
UV exposure and other environmental factors
And while sunscreen is an important part of
can quickly deplete your skin's innate antioxi-
skin cancer prevention, we are too quick to
dant reserve. As a result, cellular and DNA
focus only on sunscreen and forget all the
damage is created, and this increases your risk
other things that put you at risk for skin can-
of developing melanoma and non-melanoma
cer. Here are four ways to prevent this disease
skin cancer. Eating foods rich in antioxidants
that have nothing to do with SPF:
like collards, strawberries, kale (which all con-
1. Get your beauty sleep.
tain plenty of vitamin C); avocados, dark-
Your body is regulated by your circadian rhythm, which regulates one of the body's most important hormones: melatonin. Melatonin influences your body weight, reproduc-
22 INFLUENTIAL DOCTORS MAGAZINE
Eat the rainbow.
www.influentialdoctorsmagazine.com
green leafy vegetables, salmon, nuts (great sources of vitamin E); carrots, squash, sweet potatoes (vitamin A); and romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach (which contain lutein and
zeaxanthin) is extremely important. These
