The American Academy of Dermatology has just released some alarming news.   Drivers – especially male drivers – may be in the fast lane for deadly skin cancers if they don't act now to prevent them.

The study was conducted by Dr. Scott Fosko, MD, FAAD on nearly 1,000 drivers.  More than 53 percent of study subjects were found to have skin cancer on their left-side (the driver's side) and of these, 64 percent were men.  Besides finding a direct correlation between the time spent driving and incidence of left-sided skin cancers, Dr. Fosko found an especially high number of 'lentigo malignas,' the deadly variety of melanoma caused by cumulative sun damage.

Think you're not driving enough to be at risk? Think again.  The average American man spends 396 hours commuting each year – which equates to almost 10 work weeks!  Standard car window glass does little to protect from cancer causing ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation.  The little protection your windows may offer is lost if you're a man who likes to drop the top on your convertible, pull back the sunroof or roll down the windows.  So how can men get a handle on sun exposure and curb skin cancer? 

To lessen the risk of deadly skin cancers, men may want to reduce the amount of ultraviolet light they're exposed to when driving.  The easiest way for men to do this is to tint their automobile's glass and to cover sun-exposed areas like the head, neck, arms and hands with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.  MenScience's broad spectrum TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30 and Advanced Lip Protection not only have the highest level of FDA approved UVA and UVB protection – they also have reparative ingredients to help prevent the emergence of lines, wrinkles, age and liver spots.  

Besides sun protection, men should get regular skin cancer screenings at the dermatologist's offce.  Research indicates that most types of skin cancer, even the deadly variety, have a more than 95 percent five-year cure rate if detected and treated early. 

For more on sun the risks of sun exposure, read 'Out of the Shade and Into the Fire.' 

Despite regular exercise and a healthy diet, thousands of men may still feel they aren't quite ready to proudly bare their beach body this summer. If you're numbered among them, it may be because your diet and exercise regimen isn't tailored to your body type and its unique characteristics.   The following will help you get your body if not perfectly chiseled - at least in 'bare-able' shape - one they can be proud of this summer.

The first step to a more bare-able beach body is to assess your body types.  Men's body types are broadly grouped into three distinct varieties:  Ectomorph, Mesomorph and Endomorph.  Ectomorph men are thin and wiry and have a hard time putting on muscle.  Mesomorph men are well proportioned– their naturally athletic build includes broad shoulders, a wide back and thick thigh musculature. Endomorph men are typically a little soft-looking, perhaps slightly rotund, with narrow shoulders.  Once you understand your body type, you can next create a tailored fitness regimen to build a better body.

A fitness regimen for an Ectomorph man should limit their cardio and focus their energies on weight lifting to build mass.   Mesomorph men, who build muscle with ease, should include a balanced mix of strength training 2-3 times per week and aerobic activities either every day or every other day. Endomorph men should do at least 30 minutes of cardio activity 5-6 days per week and have strength training 2-3 times per week.  

The next challenge this summer is diet – one that's adapted your unique body type. For optimal results, Ectomorph men should add more calories to their diet.  In fact, Ectomorph men's fat intake can be up to 30% of their caloric intake. (Keep in mind that by fat, we mean healthy fats such as vegetable and heart-healthy fish oils.)  Mesomorph men, on the other hand, should opt for 4-6 well balanced, healthy meals (with 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body mass) and less fat (no more than 20% of daily calories should be fat). Prone to weight gain, Endomorph men should eat small, low-calorie foods about 4-6 times a day, taking care not to eat 3-4 hours before bed and avoiding fattening foods wherever possible. 

You may also want to consider taking a nutritional supplement to support your efforts. Regardless of men’s body type, MenScience Thermogenic Formula and Advanced CLA Supplement Formula, are an ideal complement to a healthy diet and regular exercise. The Thermogenic Formula* has high concentrations of Green Tea, Creatine, and Guarana to help boost energy levels and reactivate the metabolism to support increased calorie-burning and weight-loss processes.  The Advanced CLA Supplement Formula* uses 80% active CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) isomers (a natural Omega-6 Fatty Acid) to help transform body fat into energy for a net increase in lean muscle-mass growth.  If you're planning to order the Advanced CLA Supplement Formula this month, be sure to take advantage of our May Special (If you order the Advanced CLA Supplement Formula together with the TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30 before Memorial Day, we'll also send you a FREE MenScience Advanced Lip Protection. (Just be sure to enter the special promotional code 'Summertime.')

 For hints on weight management, read 'Get Fit by Eating Well.'