Skin Cancer, Spain and Fake Tan sound like odd bedfellows. Well, you are right. I just threw them together in a post. But there is a tenuous connection. Because I was going to Spain, I tried yet another false tan. And a few days after I returned, I was having my cancerous lesion removed.
SPAIN
We had a lovely trip to Spain with some friends for sun and relaxation a month ago. I love doors. This was in a restaurant in the mountains where we ate outside.
Sunshine was our friend. We played golf, swam, read our books, laughed, ate lovely food, drank wine and relaxed.
I took very few photos of outfits or rather Graham didn’t. He was on strike; he does that sometimes. Turns into Grumpy rather than Gorgeous Graham. Joking obviously!
So, I had to take a mirror pic to show you the fun sunglasses I borrowed from my daughter. The hat is Wallaroo. Cover-up is ancient. There is a bikini underneath.
Malaga Airport
The only disconcerting part was our arrival into Malaga Airport. It was a Sunday and there seemingly was a go-slow. A few thousand people weaved up and down the Arrivals Hall in a random way. As more passengers arrived the snake grew longer.
Having not been in such close quarters to so many people for over 18 months, it was disconcerting. In fact, I felt quite unsafe. An hour later the line started moving and we were waved through passport control. No need for a passport, it seemed.
However, the temperature check and Covid passport check were even more disorganised. The self-regulated orderly line in the arrivals hall was gone.
Eventually, we got through that. Two hours were spent in Malaga airport in very close quarters with other people. I was not happy.
We learned later that these strikes/go-slows have been quite common on Sundays recently.
We had double-masked on the aeroplane (to be sure to be sure) and those masks did not leave our faces until we had left the airport. The return journey was fine both in Malaga and at Dublin. But there were no Temperature Checks or Covid Passport checks for anyone entering Ireland. Is that odd?
SKIN CANCER
Regular readers will know that I wear sun factor daily. Of course, I was not always so fastidious and like many of my generation, I lay in the sun for hours when I was young with little or no protection. In 2018, I had a pre-cancerous skin lesion on my forehead removed. You can read about it HERE.
Well, it returned and this time Dr Steve of SKIN CHECK told me it was skin cancer. I was lucky to get an appointment pretty quickly in The Sports Surgery Clinic with Mr Hanson. He reassured me, whisked me in when I had returned from Spain and in jig time I was home following a local anaesthetic. No pain just pressure as he went in to dig it out, I guess.
It has healed pretty well now, but it has taken a while. When the stitches were removed, the wound re-opened. Possibly because the skin on the forehead is thin, the previous lesion was in the same area, or it could be just ageing. But I was well looked after and steri-strips held it together until it healed. A waterproof plaster disguised it and many of my friends did not even notice it.
PHOTO JOURNAL OF THE SKIN CANCER REMOVAL
1. Gowned up as a Day Patient in The Sports Surgery Clinic. That is what my skin cancer looked like – innocuous enough.
After surgery below.
2. A week later. I went to my doctor to get the stitches out. I probably should have gone back to The Sports Surgery Clinic.
3. When the stitches came out, it was perfect but 10 minutes later it had split open so I had to go back to the doctor.
Mr Hanson saw me the next day. And re-did the steri-strips.
I saw him again a week later and he re-did the steri-strips again. I was to take it off 5 days later. Below is what it looked like then when the plaster came off. I have to massage the scar and it will improve over time. They got all the skin cancer. Simple enough stuff.
MESSAGE
Wear SPF on your face all year around. Many creams include it and this would be plenty for the months outside summer. In summer I prefer to wear a proper sun cream Factor 50. My favourites this year are Kiehls and L’Oreal.
Go get a full body/face skin check.
Tell your children/friends/partners to wear sun cream when out in the sun. Graham has to be reminded constantly.
FAKE TAN
So, as I do not sit in the sun now, I am quite pale. I don’t mind here in Ireland, but I stand out even more in sunny countries. This might be the time to tell you that I have found a fake tan that works for me. I am useless at fake tanning. But earlier this year I was sent some He Shi products and they sat there.
But when I was heading out to Spain, I decided to try them out.
What do you want in a fake tan?
1. Ease of application
2. No streaking
3. No staining the sheets
4. No smell.
5. A natural-looking colour
ADDED BONUS
The formula contains hydrating ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Vit E and my skin felt wonderful.
“What do you think Graham?” as I pranced around. “Very natural,” he replied.
I also uses their face-tanning cream and applied it with their kabuki brush. Again delighted with it.
I am a convert.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Do not sit in the sun without SPF protection. I am lucky my skin cancer is treatable and not something more sinister. Get yourself some false tan if you are going to Spain. Or anywhere you might need to look less pasty. I wore He Shi.
See I tied it all together. Impressed?
Thanks for reading.
Hilda xxx
Hello Bilda,
I am relieved to hear that your skin cancer has been treated on time and that you’re very well. Also, it was very interesting to read about your international travel experience…I am still a bit worried about travelling but will have to soon. Great post
I think our experience was unfortunate and seems to be only Sundays in Malaga. I double masked all the way from arriving in Dublin airport and only took them off outside Malaga airport. I think we have to just do what we can do to protect ourselves. I was very nervous too. But I feel less so now. Thanks for reading.
Ooops, I meant to type Hilda, my apologies Hilda
So happy that you had a successful removal of your skin cancer. I am just like you and guilty of sunbathing way too much.
I just went to my dermatologist a couple of weeks ago for my annual skin exam. I had lots of things zapped but luckily nothing serious.
I can’t believe grumpy Graham didn’t want to take photos when you were in Spain!
Hugs my friend!
Hi Robin. Thanks for reading. I think Graham felt he was on his holidays from being an insta husband. I forgave him… Yes we need to keep vigilant don’t we? Love your Halloween decor by the way. x
I’m glad it was treatable! And that you had a good vacation in Spain. I always use a spf but like you, that wasn’t always so.
We live and learn xxxx
Traveling right now is so sketchy at times! Sounds like quite the trip, Hilda.
And so glad you were able to get in with your Doctor right away for the skin cancer. Like you, I wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. It’s just my routine at this point. I had cancer removed from my back and I think I need another spot removed. (Need to find a new doctor in our area!!)
Thanks for sharing, as always.
Thanks Loretta. Yes I hope I have passed on the message to the next generation to be sun safe. Hugs to you and John x
Very interesting post Hilda. For us 2021 is another year where we sadly haven’t been abroad. But I enjoy living vicariously through other people’s holiday pics!
Very good to read your skin cancer story, and to see how innocuous it looks. I’ve been using spf50 now for a few years, and I’m very pale now. I rarely use fake tan, just for special occasions, but always looking for recommendations.
Thanks Gail. I am pale like you. Sometimes I need a little help with fake tan. This is best I have used so far…. It suits my older skin. xx
I’ve always used SPF and I’m a big lover of fake tan Hilda. I couldn’t be arsed to bake in the sun and as you say it’s not good for you. I had a rash come up on my chin when we started face mask wearing. It’s still there and now being checked. It was good to read your journey. xx
Now I am like that Laurie. In my twenties I had litttle sense.
Great post Hilda, and thank God you got it removed so quickly, its a lesson to us all to check and keep checking. I’m freckly like you try to avoid the sun when I can. I use fake tanning products, especially during the summer or and like He Shi a lot. Glad your trip to Spain went well, I can identify with the anxiety around proximity at airport, but good idea to double-mask. Hope your lesion clears up completely and you can forget about it and look forward to Christmas celebrations.
Thanks Bernadette. Yes so happy that it was got on time. And we had a great holiday. xxx
Believe it or not, I also had two skin cancer spots removed – one was in the corner of my eye, the other – on my back. Australian sun is merciless and we have to extremely careful and always apply 50+. Glad yours was done on time and you are all clear
https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com/
Thank you. Yes sun factor and covering up are essential.