Even the sun's powerful rays can hit a superhero. Hugh Jackman opened up to the world via Instagram and Twitter that he underwent yet another procedure for skin cancer. The 48-year-old Australian actor took the break to share a post treatment photo to raise alertness for the disease.
This is the fifth time the Wolverine star has had a basal cell carcinoma removed from his nose. In fact, he issued the same notice to the public last February after the 4th procedure had been performed.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Hits Hugh Jackman Due To UV Rays
"Basal cell carcinoma is a common type of skin cancer," Mark Faries, MD, surgical oncologist and director of the Donald L. Morton, MD, Melanoma Research Program, which is part of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Beauty. "It is usually non-life hostile and specifically common for people who are regularly exposed to ultraviolet [UV] rays, like those living in warmer climates, such as Australia."
In fact, conferring to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 4 million cases of basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Kally Papantoniou, MD, a New York City-based skin expert and a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Dermatology, tells Yahoo Beauty that basal cell carcinoma is the least-destructive type of skin cancer and is slow growing.
"Though, leaving this untreated will lead to more challenging treatment later, with larger surgical scars, longer recovery, and risk to nearby buildings such as the eyes," she explains. "It is important to treat this earlier for the best outcomes."
Chronic Sun Damage Triggered His Allergy
While neither doctor attends to Jackman's medical need, both believe the fair-skinned stage and screen star most likely has recurring basal cell carcinomas due to lasting sun damage over his lifetime. "He derives from a part of the world with some of the highest skin cancer tolls, which is in part due to the routine and sun exposure risks," adds Papantoniou.
"These cancers are often due to the long contacts we had when we were in our young teens and 20s."Along with having yearly skin checkups, Faries couldn't agree more with Jackman's No. 1 prevention tip: Wear sunblock. The Skin Cancer Foundation endorses using a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher each day. For an outdoor activity, it advises applying a water-resistant, broad-component sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
