Sly Bald Guys Forum
Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => How To Protect Your Bald Head => Topic started by: buddha on April 15, 2008, 09:43:04 AM
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In the Head Shaving section ("I'm an idiot") I posted a link to some pics of some skin cancer I had removed. I'm starting a new thread here coming from the skin cancer angle because I think it's something we all should be aware of. The skin cancer I had removed is called basal cell carcinoma. It is non-malignant (benign) but the fact that I had it mandates that I have periodic checks by my dermatologist. It is not a fatal type of cancer, it doesn't move around and invade other areas of the body like melanoma, but it is a pain in the a$$.
Click on this link:
http://www.msnusers.com/BuddhasBigC
to view my pics. These were taken by the dermatologist before, during, and after the procedure. The procedure was done with local anasthesia in his office in Rhinelander, WI.
Since this happened I have become careful about using sunblock and wearing my old boonie when I'm gonna be outside for more than a trip to the mailbox.
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buddha: good topic O0 as a fellow chrome domer i never leave the house without any sunscreen. we should never leave the house without protecting our domes even if its not sunny. i hope that everyone here protects keeps their dome safe. O0
WARHAWK O0
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Thank you, Buddha for sharing your story and your pics!
That's a problem which is now important and will be more important with the progressive reduction of the ozon layer in the athmosphere.
Keep your dome - your skin in general - protected!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J
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All I can say is ouch, glad you're still here to tell the story
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Whoa Buddha!!! Glad everything went well and all is good.
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Wow! We all hear about that but it doesn't hit home until you see it. Thanks for sharing.
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WOW. Pic #2 was a bit of a shocker.
Glad you're here to talk about it and great topic!!!
We can all learn from it.
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Good topic Buddha. I too had a spot (basal cell carcinoma) removed from my back about 2 years ago. It was the biggest scare of my life. My dermatologist siad it was probably from damage done while I was a kid, and it's probably true. I grew up on a farm, also had a pool, and never wore sunscreen. To the parents out there, I cannot stress enough the use of sunscreen. I'm very careful now, but the damage that's done cannot be reversed.
Sunscreen...it's our friend!
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Buddha:
Looks like you had Moh's Surgery. I have had 6 skin cancers, 5 basal, 1 squamous cell. Three were removed w/ Moh's. Two of the basal babies were on my scalp but they were removed by a scraping process, leaving a weird white spot on the back of my head and a little dimple in the front.
I hope the brothers remember that if you have any "freckle" mole or other mark on your skin that changes color, starts getting irregular boundaries, bleeds easily, etc. call a dematologist today. When you get them early, no problemo, and if it's a melanoma, even those gotten early are almost 100% curable.
SFP--it should be your middle name, and almost all the dome toppers come w/ a SFP factor today--no excuse. I get checked out, full body, every year by my dermo guy, I wonder what I'll feel like if his lady partner does me next year--she's young a good looking--maybe it will be a test for "ED!"
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Buddha,
Thanks for the wake up call.
Sunscreen is not just for sunny days.
Glad you got it taken care of.
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Thanks for the info. on this key subject. Personally, had one on my back. It wasn't pleasant and came back as a keloid. That meant 6 cortisone injections to reduce it over 2 years. Had a few pre-stuff on my scalp; had them removed. Guys out there: check your skin for anything that looks abnormal and watch your scalp in the Summer.
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YE-OUCH! :XX
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Wow thanks for sharing sir! That looks very serious and isnt something that should be taken lightly. I have not wore SPF before on my head and face but I will now! Thank You
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Wow, that is really a kick in the but wake up reminder on using sunblock!!!!\Thanks for sharing... O0
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I just joined today, and the first topic that caught my eye was this! I had Mohs sugery the 23 of Nov, 2007, I had Basil Cell Cancer as well, Mine was on the right side of my nose, mine did not bleed, it was a big lump. I have pictures of me and will post them later, pretty graphic, they cut off most of my right nose, they then cut my head from the top of my scalp, pulled the skin down and left it attached between the eyebrows, they then sewed this skin to my nose from the forehead and left it there for 3 weeks to let the blood flow and the skin to attach to the nose, they also cut at the back of my right ear and took a piece of cartliage and sewed it to the bridge of my nose. The skin was attached to this as well. After 3 weeks they cut off the skin and removed the part from between my eyebrows.Below is what the flap looks like on this lady:
http://www.mobleymd.com/gfx/Forehead-flap-intermediate.jpg
I have to have 3 more surgerys on the nose and I need the dimple that flars out on your nose. They then will polish off the incision where the stiches were and tone down the pores on the forehead skin. Below is a link to this surgery. If you get offened easliy down look at this. Thanks for this post Budda, My Mohs surgery was done at The (U of M) University of Michigan. They cut all of this off in one day and you went back the next to have to flap done! I would have rather went thru 3 back surgerys then do this agin! It really sucked! :Xo!
http://www.mobleymd.com/index.php?s=content&p=faq_forehead_flap_nasal_reconstruction
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Wow. Thanks for sharing your story buddha, and you too oldie. Like some others have said, you know that it's important to protect the dome but it really doesn't sink in until you hear and see things like this. Thanks a big one for the kick in the butt. Glad you both made it through to be here to share with us. O0
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Wow guys! Thanks for sharing this! Buddah, can I have your permission to show these photos on my blog? I think it would give people a real wakeup call to start wearing sunscreen.
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Wow guys! Thanks for sharing this! Buddah, can I have your permission to show these photos on my blog? I think it would give people a real wakeup call to start wearing sunscreen.
Absolutely, I am cool with that idea.
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Wow guys! Thanks for sharing this! Buddah, can I have your permission to show these photos on my blog? I think it would give people a real wakeup call to start wearing sunscreen.
Absolutely, I am cool with that idea.
Thanks bro! I'll let you know when it's up.
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Buddha,
You have got my attention. It's hats and sunscreen for me. In fact, I had momentarily thought about going to a tanning salon after I lose some weight. But with the fact that I have several moles on my body and now your photos, I think that a pasty white color is probably the truest "healthy" color!
While I am not a naturist, I kind of wonder what the statistics for skin cancer among that crowd. It would be a bummer to be a naturist and discover that you CAN'T be in the sun anymore. I suppose they could use sunscreen, but that would still be scary!
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WEAR SUNSCREEN! Having recently lost my father at 64 to MELANOMA and my mother at 53 to Leukemia, I can't stress enough how important it is to wear sunscreen and protect yourselves and family. My father was a signalman in the NAVY 30 years, so we knew it was coming eventually. The only problem I have is that no one told him he had some dark spots behind his ear. And 5 years ago it was removed and so fast last year he was gone with-in 2 months from Stage 4 Melanoma. WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! RIP DADDY and MOMMA
PS... BUDDHA Thank you and glad you're here!
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That sort of thing could interfere with my plans to die from some horrible, new-discovered STD.
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A very informative and thought provoking post. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I wear SPF 50 on my head, arms and lower legs. I have a lot of ink and I want to protect it - and the bald head is easily burned since I spend a lot of time outside. The SPF 50 is a daily ritual for us (wife and three girls) - we never leave home without it.
Regards,
Matthew
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Buddha,
Glad you're gonna be alright! O0
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I visit the Dermatologist every 6 months for a full body check and have had several non-cancerous moles removed from my head over the years. I wear Bald Guyz Sunscreen every day 365 days a year. UVB Rays are not just in the sun but in the shade as well. According to the American Association of Dermatologists 80% of all skin cancer in men is found on the head, ears or backs of hands.
I spent 12 years developing our sunscreen so that it would stay on the head and not sweat off. Even though there are sunscreens that say they are higher SPF's (SPF 50, 75 even 80) make sure that you really stay protected, and the sunscreen does not sweat off or rub off when you wipe the head.
No matter which sunscreen you use, PLEASE remember to use it every day as it is better safe then sorry. This is a VERY serious problem and one that should not be taken lightly. Bald Guyz supports the Skin Cancer Foundation and is proud to be out there protecting the bald head!
HBG
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Ouch
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Ouch
Just tell us when that insurance goes into effect and when you're seeing the DR about that stuff on the head, even good knitting can't keep us all from riding you until we get the word that you've seen the DR and the solution is under way,
SaintC, survivor of SIX skin cancers.
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Yeah I'll be gettin it checked as soon as it kicks in.
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Wow dude. Sorry this happened to ya! Got me inspired to use SPF
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OK.... heading to the store now, never really thought too much about it, but thanks for the eye opener everyone! Paul p0@^
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I am curious, does anyone know what the start of skin cancers look like? Recently, I have discovered some rough skin between my left eye and the top of my beard. I picked the rough skin off and the area that was underneath is kind of thin and hard. I know I should probably go to the doctor but was wondering if you all have experienced this?
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I am curious, does anyone know what the start of skin cancers look like? Recently, I have discovered some rough skin between my left eye and the top of my beard. I picked the rough skin off and the area that was underneath is kind of thin and hard. I know I should probably go to the doctor but was wondering if you all have experienced this?
Go to your skin doctor and get it checked out, could be the start and then they can just "freeze" it and you're free. Don't delay though any unusual skin lesion that doesn't heal completely w/in a week, two at the most needs to be looked at.
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Ive had a number of little items frozen (nose area) over the last 4 years. Generally they take 1-2 weeks to heal but there are warning signs. They can be crusty, scabby, itchy and/or burning. Dont F around with these if u can.
And be warned: anything close to or under the eyes hurts for one week badly.
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When mine started it was just an area that looked like dry skin. I would use some lotion on it ever so often and then forget it. When it started to bleed for no reason I got alarmed and went to the doc.
I would google this topic if you have any doubts. Most of these websites have pics that you can compare with whatever is going on with your skin and give you a good idea if there might be a problem.
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I agree..get it checked out. I have an appointment with a dermetologist in November to have a couple of places on the right side of my head checked out though interestingly I have been treating them with Tea Tree Oil and they appear to be shrinking.
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I had the real thing on my back 9 years ago. A tiny pimple (and I mean tiny) that NEVER stopped itching. took 4 weeks to heal + 5 cortisone shots later to reduce the keloid scarring. If it doesnt look right or feel right, get it checked.
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Good advice guys....just had my yearly physical a month ago and my doctor looks at all the moles and growths on the body to make sure nothing looks amiss.... O0
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A wake up call for us all. I will certainly be more careful in future. Scotland aint the sunniest place in the world, but better to be safe than sorry. Thanks for sharing your experience and I wish you well for the future.
Cheers
Stephen