We're kind of used to celebs tweeting photos of their food and workouts—but when Hugh Jackman Instagrammed a photo of his bandaged nose yesterday, it was a little alarming, especially since it came with this message: "Deb said to get the mark on my nose checked. Boy, was she right! I had a basil [sic] cell carcinoma. Please don't be foolish like me. Get yourself checked. And USE sunscreen!!!"

Hugh had discovered he had basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that begins in the basal cells (which produce new skin cells that replace old ones). Basal cell carcinoma symptoms usually occur on the parts of your body that are exposed to the sun—often looking like waxy bumps with visible blood cells, scars, or scaly patches—and often develop due to sun exposure and tanning beds. Sun worshippers, people with fair skin, and anyone with a family history of skin cancer are most often at highest risk—there are an estimated 2.8 million cases of basal skin carcinoma diagnosed in the United States.
So in the interest of being proactive—like Hugh's wife was, when she urged him to get his spot checked out—here's what the Skin Cancer Foundation suggests you watch for:
Open sores: Anything that bleeds, oozes, and crusts (these are absolutely terrible verbs, I know), only to open up and bleed again is a common sign of early basal cell carcinoma.
Reddish, irritated areas: Spots that seem itchy or tend to crust—usually on the face, chest, shoulders, arms, or legs—can be warning signs.
Shiny bumps: Pink, red, white, or translucent bumps that look something like moles can also be signs.
Pink growths: These usually have slightly elevated borders, with a possible crusty indentation in the center. Sometimes they get bigger, displaying tiny blood vessels.
Scarlike areas: They might be white, yellow, or waxy, with no defined borders, and may look like healing scars (and could mean there's an invasive, larger carcinoma below the surface).
And, as a reminder—just because the days are cloudier and colder during the winter months, that doesn't mean that you're off the hook. Ultraviolet rays are present all the time, and Hugh is right—making sunscreen a habit is really only a good thing (and we're so glad he's OK!).
Do you take active steps to protect your skin?