3 easy ways to protect yourself from UV rays, as told by Hugh Jackman GIFs.

Erin Canty
02.09.16

Hugh Jackman is an awesome dude.

He can sing. He can dance. He can act. He can even slay villains with one hand. 

GIF from "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

One might say he's a "jackman of all trades." OK, no one will say that, but they should.

But unfortunately, skin cancer doesn't care if you're awesome.

Jackman announced on his Facebook page this week that he had a basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, removed from his nose. 

This is Jackman's fifth run-in with skin cancer in less than three years.

In November, 2013, Jackman's wife, actress Deborra-Lee Furness, noticed a small mark on his nose and pushed him to go to the doctor. Her intuition was right, and Jackman had a small carcinoma removed. 

Since then, Jackman has had four more basal cell carcinomas removed, including the latest this week. The 47-year-old actor has always been very public about his diagnoses and treatment, often encouraging fans to get checked and wear sunscreen. 

While scary, Jackman's form of skin cancer is rarely fatal.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, with more than 3.3 million people diagnosed in the U.S. each year. 

A dermatologist uses an iPhone as a dermatoscope to examine a patient for symptoms of skin cancer. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.

Despite its frequency, this type of cancer isn't usually life-threatening, as basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads beyond the lesion site. However, it should be taken seriously as it can cause disfigurement.

But the good news for Jackman, and all of us, is that prevention is not only possible, it's easy.

1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. And while many skin cancers are treatable, it's still wise to prevent them in the first place. 

Allow Mr. Jackman (in GIF form anyway) to walk you through three easy things you can do to protect yourself from ultraviolet (UV) rays, one of the primary causes of skin cancer. 

GIF via "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

1. You've heard it before, but it bears repeating: Wear sunscreen.

And do it year-round. While most sunscreens don't filter out 100% of harmful radiation, they still do a great job of protecting your body's largest organ — your skin. So slather it on and re-apply if you swim or get sweaty. 

GIF from "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

2. In addition to sunblock, wear some protective clothing.

Since sunscreen doesn't provide full protection from UV rays, it's important to supplement your skincare routine with clothes and garments that provide additional coverage. Cover up with dark, tightly-woven fabrics on your arms and legs. It may not be the cool, effortless beach look you were going for, but your skin will thank you. 

And don't forget a hat and sunglasses. Your face needs love too. 

GIF via "The Fountain"

3. Whatever you do, avoid tanning beds.

The UV light used in tanning beds is the same type of light you should be protecting yourself against when you're outdoors. If you're looking for a shot of color, head to your drug store's bronzer aisle. 

GIF from "Australia."

And one more tip, just for good measure. 

Don't be afraid to get up close and personal with your skin.

No one knows your skin like you, so give it a thorough once over on the regular. Use a mirror and really get in there. Be on the lookout for any changes to existing freckles, birthmarks, or moles. And, of course, if you develop any skin growths, let your doctor know. 

With regular checks you'll be the first to notice any changes. 

GIF from "Someone Like You."

Now have fun, be safe, and take care of yourself. Hugh would want you to.

cancer skin cancer hugh jackman
Family

Oprah's social experiment on audience members puts racism in a new light

On an old episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in July 1992, Oprah put her audience through a social experiment that puts racism in a new light. Despite being nearly two decades old, it's as relevant today as ever.

She split the audience members into two groups based on their eye color. Those with brown eyes were given preferential treatment by getting to cut the line and given refreshments while they waited to be seated. Those with blue eyes were made to put on a green collar and wait in a crowd for two hours.

Staff were instructed to be extra polite to brown-eyed people and to discriminate against blue-eyed people. Her guest for that day's show was diversity expert Jane Elliott, who helped set up the experiment and played along, explaining that brown-eyed people were smarter than blue-eyed people.

Watch the video to see how this experiment plays out.

Oprah's Social Experiment on Her Audience www.youtube.com

oprah diversity racism social experiment
Culture

Cadbury removed the words from its wrappers to bring attention to a seldom-discussed issue

The candy giant said it "donated" the words.

via Cadbury

Cadbury has removed the words from its Dairy Milk chocolate bars in the U.K. to draw attention to a serious issue, senior loneliness.

On September 4, Cadbury released the limited-edition candy bars in supermarkets and for every one sold, the candy giant will donate 30p (37 cents) to Age UK, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the elderly.

Cadbury was prompted to help the organization after it was revealed that 225,000 elderly people in the UK often go an entire week without speaking to another person.

Keep Reading Show less
elderly lonliness lonely seniors cadbury dairy milk age uk AARP cadbury removes words from wrappers
Well Being
Walgreens
Walgreens

Teachers seek outside support to tackle today’s challenges in the classroom

Young people today are facing what seems to be greater exposure to complex issues like mental health, bullying, and youth violence. As a result, teachers are required to be well-versed in far more than school curriculum to ensure students are prepared to face the world inside and outside of the classroom. Acting as more than teachers, but also mentors, counselors, and cheerleaders, they must be equipped with practical and relevant resources to help their students navigate some of the more complicated social issues – though access to such tools isn't always guaranteed.

Take Dr. Jackie Sanderlin, for example, who's worked in the education system for over 25 years, and as a teacher for seven. Entering the profession, she didn't anticipate how much influence a student's home life could affect her classroom, including "students who lived in foster homes" and "lacked parental support."

Dr. Jackie Sanderlin, who's worked in the education system for over 25 years.

Valerie Anglemyer, a middle school teacher with more than 13 years of experience, says it can be difficult to create engaging course work that's applicable to the challenges students face. "I think that sometimes, teachers don't know where to begin. Teachers are always looking for ways to make learning in their classrooms more relevant."

So what resources do teachers turn to in an increasingly fractured world? "Joining a professional learning network that supports and challenges thinking is one of the most impactful things that a teacher can do to support their own learning," Anglemyer says.

Valerie Anglemyer, a middle school teacher with more than 13 years of experience.

A new program for teachers that offers this network along with other resources is the WE Teachers Program, an initiative developed by Walgreens in partnership with ME to WE and Mental Health America. WE Teachers provides tools and resources, at no cost to teachers, looking for guidance around the social issues related to poverty, youth violence, mental health, bullying, and diversity and inclusion. Through online modules and trainings as well as a digital community, these resources help them address the critical issues their students face.

Jessica Mauritzen, a high school Spanish teacher, credits a network of support for providing her with new opportunities to enrich the learning experience for her students. "This past year was a year of awakening for me and through support… I realized that I was able to teach in a way that built up our community, our school, and our students, and supported them to become young leaders," she says.

With the new WE Teachers program, teachers can learn to identify the tough issues affecting their students, secure the tools needed to address them in a supportive manner, and help students become more socially-conscious, compassionate, and engaged citizens.

It's a potentially life-saving experience for students, and in turn, "a great gift for teachers," says Dr. Sanderlin.

"I wish I had the WE Teachers program when I was a teacher because it provides the online training and resources teachers need to begin to grapple with these critical social issues that plague our students every day," she adds.

In addition to the WE Teachers curriculum, the program features a WE Teachers Award to honor educators who go above and beyond in their classrooms. At least 500 teachers will be recognized and each will receive a $500 Walgreens gift card, which is the average amount teachers spend out-of-pocket on supplies annually. Teachers can be nominated or apply themselves. To learn more about the awards and how to nominate an amazing teacher, or sign up for access to the teacher resources available through WE Teachers, visit walgreens.com/metowe.

WE Teachers
True
Walgreens

Fed up news anchor has the best response to a man who told her to dress ‘like a normal woman’

Women shouldn't have to dress for the male gaze.

via KGW-TV / YouTube

One of the major differences between women and men is that women are often judged based on their looks rather than their character or abilities.

"Men as well as women tend to establish the worth of individual women primarily by the way their body looks, research shows. We do not do this when we evaluate men," Naomi Ellemers Ph.D. wrote in Psychology Today.

Dr. Ellers believes that this tendency to judge a woman solely on her looks causes them to be seen as an object rather than a person.

Keep Reading Show less
Culture