Hugh Jackman wants you to “put some sunscreen on” — and shared an online PSA to say so.
The 54-year-old “Wolverine” star, who has received skin cancer treatment at least five times in the past, revealed on Instagram Monday how his basal cell carcinoma might have returned. Jackman acknowledged his bandaged nose before going into detail.
“I wanted you to hear it from me, just in case someone sees me on the street or whatever,” said Jackman in an Instagram Reel. “I’ve just had two biopsies done. I just went to my doctor, Dr. Iron, who’s awesome — and she saw two little things.”
“She saw little things, could be or could not be basal cell in her opinion,” he continued. “I’ll find out in two or three days, and as soon as I know, I’ll let you know. Just to remind you, basal cell — in the world of skin cancers — is the least dangerous of them all.”
Basal cell carcinoma is also the most common kind of skin cancer and is often caused by sun exposure, per the American Cancer Society. It begins in the lower part of the skin (usually on the face, head or neck areas) and can spread to the bones if left untreated.
Jackman, who has more than 31 million Instagram followers, has a long history with the disease. He told his fans in 2013 that he had cancerous tissue removed from his nose, only for his basal cell carcinoma to return (twice) the following year and several times since.
Jackman previously attributed his experience with the condition to growing up in Australia (as the Southern Hemisphere is closer to the sun in the summer than its northern counterparts ever are) and told People in 2015 that he never wore sunscreen in his youth.
The Golden Globe-winning actor thus urged his followers to take heed.
“If I can just take this opportunity to remind you, summer is coming,” Jackman said on Instagram. “For those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere, please wear sunscreen. It is just not worth it. No matter how much you wanna tan, trust me, trust me, trust me.”
“This is all stuff that happened 25 years ago,” he continued. “It’s coming out now. Put some sunscreen on. You’ll still have an incredible time out there.”