MISScellanea

Another important note about skin protection...

Just because you have a dark complexion or are black, that doesn't mean you're off the hook! In fact, the survival rate for those individuals is much lower (58.8%) because darker skinned people do not detect melanoma as soon.

It’s a good thing Miss Clayland, Karissa Martin, is on spring break this week, because I’ve been giving her a lot of homework!
She further told me:

The most common area for melanomas to appear on darker skinned or black individuals is under fingernails, palm of the hands, and in between the fingers which are usually lighter in tone. They may also appear on non-sun exposed areas such as feet, toenails, and mucous membranes such as the mouth and nasal passages.They need to follow all the same procedures for protection and make sure that any abnormality is checked immediately.

One last thing on this before I move on to the next issue...
I know some women will continue risking their health to look a certain way onstage; as the former Miss Maryland and cancer survivor said below, tanning literally becomes addictive.

Addicted contestants not only lose sight of their health, but also the reflection in the mirror! One of the many things I'll never forget about Miss Ohio week is the distraught expression on the faces of chaperones as they look at certain unnaturally over tanned contestants... Be realistic ladies!