Actress Michelle Monaghan shares her personal skin cancer journey and explains why daily sun protection and annual checkups are vital.
What do you think people often overlook when it comes to sun protection and early detection?
I think there’s a general lack of awareness on how important it is to protect yourself daily from the sun’s harmful rays, particularly from a young age. Sun damage is cumulative, and almost 25% of our sun damage will occur before the age of 18. It’s critical to make sun protection part of your overall health and wellness routine. Instilling good sun care practices as a youth will help you in the long run, not just in the prevention of skin cancer, but also premature aging. In addition, reapplication is key — every two hours. I highly encourage people to get annual skin checks as well. Early detection could save your life. It did mine.
What inspired you to get involved in skin cancer awareness?
I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma several years ago. My husband, who’s Australian and has a lot of skin cancer awareness, discovered an irregular mole on my calf. He nudged me to get it checked, and thank goodness I listened. I caught it at an early stage, and it was successfully removed. The experience was a wake-up call and the catalyst for me to learn all I could about skin cancer. I’ve been inspired to share my story and my knowledge in the hope that other people will take more protective measures and schedule annual dermatologist visits.
What role do routine skin checkups play in your health and wellness?
I see my dermatologist annually to do a full body check, and throughout the year, I do a self-check every month. I keep an eye on any skin changes or mole irregularities. I often photograph moles, so I have a record of any noticeable changes as well.
What was your sunscreen routine like while filming “The White Lotus” in Thailand?
The sun and the heat in Thailand were incredibly intense. I started my day wearing SPF 50 on my face and body. We had a number of different sunscreens in all kinds of formats — cream, spray, powder, sticks — to make the reapplication process as easy as possible. Even the makeup I wore had SPF in it.
We also wore a lot of hats, sunglasses, and linen shirts. Even though we looked like we were running around in bathing suits the whole time, between takes we would cover ourselves and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
What was your sunscreen routine like while filming “The White Lotus” in Thailand?
The sun and the heat in Thailand were incredibly intense. It was the hottest year on record, and we would often be shooting outside in 100+º temperatures. I started my day wearing SPF 50 on my face and body. We had a number of different sunscreens in all kinds of formats — cream, spray, powder, sticks — to make the reapplication process as easy as possible. Even the makeup I wore had SPF in it. We also wore a lot of hats, sunglasses, and linen shirts. Even though we looked like we were running around in bathing suits the whole time, between takes we would cover ourselves and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
How do you teach your kids about the importance of sunscreen and taking care of their skin?
My children know how important it is for them to be protected. We’re an outdoorsy family, and we love surfing and diving, so we spend lots of time in the sun. Our kids choose a sunscreen they like — one they won’t mind wearing and reapplying throughout the day. When we’re at the beach, we wear rash vests in the water and always sit under an umbrella.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self about taking care of your skin?
Don’t ever use a tanning bed. Growing up, I would frequent a tanning bed before prom. It was a mistake I made multiple times. Studies now show that using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75%. Without a doubt, I can trace my own melanoma diagnosis back to that period of time. Love the skin you’re in, protect it, and preserve it.
