MOLES - Did you know?

[Christine]

Once formed, moles remain for decades. ~ So if your looking for a discussion on this subject...and a CLUSTER of other info being discussed.... Read on.... jump in...and be apart of a topic that is more than just the same ol' same ol'...

Now... did you know this about moles?
They come at any age from childhood on.

Be sure you always ask your guests if they have any moles on their skin that they would like to apply an SPF on before they expose to UV.
Why ask?
Because it is the "professional" thing to do....
Have a sample of SPF at the counter and give them a tad of the SPF along with a Q-Tip...
It makes the guest know you CARE..
Remember..
When actually applying skin care to your system in your facility..
reverse the words..
Care about the Skin..

[eileen]

Did you know that on the average the people with the most moles live longer then those without?

I personally could never tell a client to cover up their moles. First I would feel very uncomfortable doing it. I am not a Dr. and how would I know if putting sunblock on a particular mole would protect it? I think this would convey to my customer that I think their moles need to be protected from UV rays. I "personally" think done correctly with minimum exposure year round is what is best for them but it's not my job or my field of expertise to play Doctor. I do take my own health into my own hands.... however, any and all health advice should be left to a their own Doctor IMO.

[Christine]

I think this would convey to my customer that I think their moles need to be protected from UV rays.

Eileen..
I understand you may be uncomfortable..
but it really is our job when administrating UV light and advising the general public on tanning to be wise..

Remember... we need to know about the effects on the largest organ of the body when we are advising a guest on how to the "best tan"..

Maybe you could post the ABCs of moles in a plastic cover on your front desk...and it will help as a conversation opener...

Maybe you could say something like "if you notice any of your moles have turned an odd shape, color, size..or anything that seems it has changed over the years you may want to cover them with an SPF just like you would offer them an SPF for tatoos or scares, or anything that doesn't need to have exposure to UV...
remember...it's important to ask questions to your guests..
Even deep blue,blk bruises should not have exposure..."
It's responsible to give your guests facts so that when some one gives them false info on tanning they can say...that isn't true...or let me ask Eileen at my salon she's the professional.

To make it easy to get the answers to these questions we have a body chart on our release form and the guest just fills out the info...I will see if one of the computer guyz on this board can put a copy of it up here...and maybe you would like to see if it can benefit your salon..


Eileen.. you can call any of the educational departments in our industry and some one will help you answer any questions that come to your desk..
Advidsing some one to be "wise" is not giving them medical advice...
I own a medically supervised tanning and skin care facility...as well as teach for a medical distribution company and I don't pretend to be a Doctor.... I would never suggest any one play Doctor... I do however strongly advise valued guests to be wise....
I'll try and get one of the guyz to post that body chart up here...

[eileen]

No thank you.

But I would love to see where it is documented that just covering up a single mole with sunscreen will protect it. This is the very first time I have ever heard this one. I love to research things so maybe you could point me in the right direction to which scientific study lead you to believe this.

[Christine]

But I would love to see where it is documented that just covering up a single mole with sunscreen will protect it.

When in doubt using an SPF is wise..
Eileen..
this is clearly not a scientific quote .. It is if you re read it the "Professional" thing to do...
You don't feel comfortable... that's ok.. keep doing what is comfortable..
This form is about skin care..
If you are "caring for the skin" it's important to be wise and advise.

It's late...
Time to get some shut eye..
wow..1:19...T.G.I.F!!!

[Christine]

But I would love to see where it is documented that just covering up a single mole with sunscreen will protect it.

"Be sure you always ask your guests if they have any moles on their skin that they would like to apply an SPF on before they expose to UV.Why ask?
Because it is the "professional" thing to do.."


When in doubt using an SPF is wise..

Eileen..
this is clearly not a scientific quote .. It is my words...
if you re read it says it is the "Professional" thing to do...
You don't feel comfortable... that's ok.. keep doing what is comfortable..
This form is about skin care..
If you are "caring for the skin" it's important to be wise and advise.

It's late...
Time to get some shut eye..
wow..1:19...T.G.I.F!!!

[eileen]

OK so there is no basis for the comment. That's just not professional and sets your customer thinking that tanning is bad for them before they even get started. I understand it's about skincare. To me 90% of the sunblocks out there are the worst thing you can put on your skin. I will stay with what is the professional thing to do and that is if a customer feels uncomfortable about their moles I always suggest they go talk to their Doctor. We are not permitted to tell our customers that we sell Vitamin D benefits why would we be permitted to tell them covering up their moles with sunblock will protect them? It's not our job to make health claims.

[eileen]

I don't mean to sound negative towards the post. It provokes thought which is always good when opinions are shared and I appreciate it. We do have to be very careful what we say to our clients when it's about their health.

[Kathe]

The one concern I have with this is that I'm not convinced that SPF use isn't contributing to the rise in skin cancer. I don't use sunscreen at all. Even on my children. Even in the Caribbean. We don't burn. We pre-tan and then after we have enough sun, we cover up. I do not trust the chemicals in sunscreen and I would have a lot of trouble telling customers to put it on a mole or anything else. It's troubling to me that the rise in skin cancer seems directly related to the rise in the use of SPF's and scaring people away from the sun.

We are in the business of trying to educate people to be as healthy as possible while in the process taking good care of their skin. I try to stay away from anything that tells someone that "sun is bad for you". Really if you look at it the sun as been around for 6000+ years and the rates of skin cancer just started rising dramatically a few years ago. Does that make sense to anyone? There has to be another cause other than the sun. Could it be our diets (high fat/low fiber/chemical laden food) and the use of inferior skin care containing (mineral oil, artificial dyes, fragrances, chemical preservatives) and the fear of the sun which means that every time you go outside you must use an SPF 90 to walk from your house to your car? I wonder. As Eileen said there are SPF's in everything. Moisturizers, makeup, you name it.

I just can't see telling a customer who has a mole to cover it up with an SPF that I'm not convinced it didn't cause it to begin with. And besides, you would only see the moles on her face; what about the rest of her body?

I'd love to hear your opinion on SPF Christine.

[Kathe]

Originally Posted by eileen

I don't mean to sound negative towards the post. It provokes thought which is always good when opinions are shared and I appreciate it. We do have to be very careful what we say to our clients when it's about their health.

Agree. I love a good talk about a subject. It keeps education going. Thanks!

[Brian Oshman]

I'm glad that someone else asked the question because I also was going to ask what the basis for doing this was. If it is just an opinion and you have no real answer or facts to back it up then what is the purpose?

A lot of banter going on without any facts to as why this needs to be done. It would have just been easier and more informative to just put the reason why in the first post. Is there a reason?

Just because "I care" isn't answer enough for me.

[SandiGirl]

Why does a mod not know how to properly use the quote function?

This is the 1st thread of her's I've read, and maybe it's just me, but I find her 'tone' to Eileen condescending.

[navigatin1]

The comments below are IMHO.

I would never tell a client to cover a mole. Why?

1. It just reminds them that "tanning is bad". (At least that's what the dermoterrorists WANT them to believe)
2. There are KNOWN cancer causing chemicals in sunscreen. So why would I tell them to put it on a mole that is predisposed to turn into cancer? (maybe)

[Island Cove]

I would think applying sunscrean to moles would be a terrible thing to do, with the cancer causing ingredience in sunscreens themselves, I'd rather risk the off chance i may get a cancerous mole that can be removed, but with alot of evidence to the benifits of sun exposure, it might just do them some good and keep melanoma at bay. As we are learning. Where the sun doesn't go, the doctor does. lol

[Jim Carlton]

Chris views our business from a different lens. After 21 years in the same location, and introducing medically supervised skin care to the tanning mix many years ago( her supervising dermatologist has tanned with her for 10 years) and being a paramedical aesthetician she looks at skin from the point of view of a skin care specialist .

As far as sunscreen application to moles is concerned there are two schools of thought and several types of sunscreen. Application of most over the counter brands would not be advisable, however there are sunscreens manufactured by leading indoor tanning lotion makers that do not possess the chemical composition that is questionable.

I agree that it would not advisable without proper training or medical supervision to draw attention to a client's moles. There are hundreds of websites with mole and cancer info and many don't agree. I guess it depends on who is paying for the research and how that research is interpreted.

It wouldn't hurt though to have some info to give to clients that inquire about indoor tanning and moles they have.

[frankie]

Why does a mod not know how to properly use the quote function?

This is the 1st thread of her's I've read, and maybe it's just me, but I find her 'tone' to Eileen condescending.

Sandigirl this thread is not about whether Chris can use a function key or her tone to Eileen. It is about education and the topic is moles. If you have any input on the topic or professional data feel free to post.

[W8INLINE]

Christine, is there a specific SPF brand you supply them with? What about the client who asks if they can use any drug store bought SPF....and if they can, then why do we claim our acrylics damage when they use drug store bought products, but if they only use it on their moles its acceptable?

[eileen]

Originally Posted by Jim Carlton

I agree that it would not advisable without proper training or medical supervision to draw attention to a client's moles. There are hundreds of websites with mole and cancer info and many don't agree. I guess it depends on who is paying for the research and how that research is interpreted.

It wouldn't hurt though to have some info to give to clients that inquire about indoor tanning and moles they have.

Ok so you say don't draw attention to their moles then in your next thought you say It wouldn't hurt to have some info to give clients that inquire about their moles.

I'm sorry but the only right answer here unless you are a Doctor is to go consult with your Doctor. I have surgeons, psychiatrists, pediatricians, chiropractors, two ophthalmologists, and the Pittsburgh Steelers team Dr. tan with us. This does not give me the right to advocate the health benefits of tanning inside the salon. I'll talk about it to no end outside of my salon environment though.

[eileen]

Christine has brought up a very good topic. Nice to take part in one you haven't come across before.

[Alan @ TanToday]

Christine' is out to a training conference but will be back soon to answer the questions posed above with proven medical studies.

Stay tuned.....