After Getting Skin Biopsy, Actor Hugh Jackman, 52, Tells Fans: ‘I Recommend Getting a Skin Check…Please, Do It For Me’

In a new video posted to Instagram, the Wolverine star encourages fans and followers to pay attention to their skin.

“Hey guys, I recommend getting a skin check regularly. I know I've said it before. I know I may be boring you with this, but it's super easy to do and it's really really important to be pre-emptive with these things,” he says.

 

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“If you're like me and you didn't know any better when you were young, and you didn't wear sunscreen and you were in the Australian sun…If not, it doesn't matter who you are,” he says. “Next time you're with your doctor, or if you're with a specialist if you can. Say: 'Can you please give me a skin check?' At least once a year. Just do it, please. Do it for me. I just had mine done. I had a biopsy. It's pre-cancerous, it's not much I'm really glad I went. Wear sunscreen!”

Hugh’s Skin Cancer Battle

Jackman has fought skin cancer many times. He has experienced basal cell carcinoma, or “BCC.” The disease first presented in 2013 for the actor, and he has battled it six times.

Related: More Men Are Dying From Melanoma Across Globe, While More Women are Surviving

Basal cell carcinoma the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Jackman’s most recent battle with basal cell carcinoma was in 2017. After his diagnosis, Jackman said on Twitter: “Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent checks & amazing doctors, all’s well. Looks worse w the dressing on then off! WEARSUNSCREEN.”

When it comes to selecting sunscreen to prevent cancer, Dermatologic Surgeon Dr. Snehal Amin provided his expertise in an earlier interview. “There are a lot of brands of sunscreens and it makes it hard to choose which product to use,” he says. “My recommendation is really focus on the ingredients rather than the brands.”

“If you like the way the brand feels on your skin, if you like the purpose of the brand– for instance, sport versus daily use or daytime use versus a short burst of activity use– I think those are more important factors than actual brands,” advises Dr. Amin.  “When I’m using sunscreens on my younger kids, I recommend Neutrogena Free and Clear Stick, which is a zinc and titanium-based sunscreen.”

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

How to Protect Your Skin

As Jackman points out, it’s important to protect your skin with regular checks and sunscreen. There are other steps you can take, too, to cut down on your risk of developing skin cancer.  Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman outlines in an earlier interview five easy ways to protect your skin.

Related: Half of Teen Tanning Salon Customers Go With Their Moms Part of Massive Increase in Skin Cancer

Dr. Engelman says:

1. Avoid sun during peak hours. This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you do venture outdoors.
2. Cover your skin and eyes. A wide brim hat and sun glasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
3. Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. This is easy enough. Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Reapply often.
4. Get an annual skin check. You can check your own skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to make sure you didn't miss anything. If you do happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about it ASAP it is always worth it to make sure.
5. Avoid tanning beds. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman says.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

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