Spot the Difference

I often write articles about inviting or attracting new members to your club or location. Spring is a time of new beginnings and of getting things in shape, so this time I want to write about you – about getting yourself ready for enjoying another beautiful summer.

We talk about the benefits of naturism – which are definitely wide and varied…the blissful feeling of the sun on our skin; the many health benefits both mental and physical through maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D.  

But there is another element that we cannot afford to ignore.

Along with our normal annual health checkups, as naturists there is something that we should definitely never overlook…a mole or skin check.

As children and teenagers we have all been exposed, possibly even unprotected, to strong sun resulting in sunburn. This and also our wonderful clothes-free lifestyle involving frequent activities outdoors, increase our risk of developing Melanoma or other forms of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in New Zealand and two out of three of us will develop it. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most common forms of skin cancer and are completely curable and treatable by medical practitioners when caught early. 

As part of your early detection plan, I would highly recommend having a regular mole check performed by your GP or even better still a trained Dermatologist like a Molecheck or MoleMap clinic.

A suggestion for clubs could be to organise a Dermatologist to attend an open/visitors day and do spot checks for a period of time. It also might be possible to arrange a discounted rate for members of your club at the closest clinic.

My husband and I have just had our mole check for the year. We received a health voucher from our medical insurance provider so decided to put it towards that. While we keep an eye on each other’s skin and try to recognise any changes that occur, seeking the opinion of a professional Dermatologist gives you the peace of mind and they advise the particular spots (if any) they’d like to keep an eye on. 

So, while it is cooler out there and while we’re not spending every moment available enjoying nude recreation to the same extent, why not get yourself a thorough check up all over and…spot the difference.