MAY 2024 —

May is recognized annually as Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and Aqua Medical Spa is educating its clients on the importance of protecting their skin from the sun to prevent against skin cancer as well as premature aging. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime, with the most common types being basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, is less common, but it is still estimated that 200,000+ cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States this year.

There are many simple sun safety tips recommended by dermatologists and skin care professionals that can help people lower their risk of skin cancer. Some of these tips include avoiding tanning beds, wearing sun-protective clothing including hats and sunglasses, and limiting sun exposure when possible. One of the most important sun safety measures that is commonly overlooked is wearing sunscreen correctly. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher should be worn daily, regardless of skin tone, and reapplied during prolonged time in the sun and/or water.

One of the main causes of premature signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation is photoaging, which is damage to the skin caused by exposure to the sun’s UV rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, photoaging is responsible for 90% of the visible changes to the skin. The previously mentioned sun safety tips, including regular use of sunscreen, can help to limit the damaging effects of the sun’s rays and keep skin looking youthful and radiant.

Aqua Medical Spa carries a variety of medical-grade sunscreens designed to protect and nourish your skin from trusted brands like Revision Skincare, Obagi, SkinCeuticals, SkinMedica, eltaMD, and more. This May, in an effort to help their clients protect their skin from skin cancer as well as premature aging, Aqua Medical Spa is offering 25% off these sunscreens, both in spa and through their online store.

Along with practicing sun safety tips, Aqua Medical Spa recommends performing monthly at-home self-checks for skin cancer as well as scheduling an annual skin exam from a dermatology professional. When caught and treated early, skin cancer is highly treatable, making regular skin checks an essential part of the recommended skin protection strategy, especially for individuals with a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

Aqua Medical Spa’s supervising physicians along with experienced dermatology nurse practitioners and physician assistants at Dermatology Specialists clinics throughout the southeastern United States will be hosting free skin cancer screenings during Skin Cancer Awareness Month to help detect skin cancer early in adults who have not had a professional skin cancer screening within the past year. Limited appointments are available, so make sure to schedule yours while appointments last by calling (877) 231-DERM (3376). More information about the free screenings can be found at mydermspecialists.com/freescreening/.

To find an Aqua Medical Spa near you and get 25% off medical-grade sunscreens this May, visit aquamedicalspa.com/locations/. To shop online, visit store.aquamedicalspa.com. Rules and restrictions apply. See Aqua Medical Spa staff or visit aquamedicalspa.com/specials-events/ for complete details.