Gordon Ramsay is used to bringing the heat in the kitchen. His years as a professional chef, restaurant rescuer and tough critic have prepared him for nearly every high-pressure situation — except one: the long-term effects of the sun.
Ramsay announced earlier this week that he had basal cell carcinoma removed from his jaw in an Instagram post. The photo shows a bandage across the side of his face and a line of stitches from his earlobe to below his jaw.
“Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast, reactive work on removing this basal cell carcinoma. Thank you!” Ramsay wrote.
He also joked that it was not a facelift. “I’d need a refund,” he wrote.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of any cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. BCC begins with abnormal growth of basal cells, which produce new skin cells when old ones die, on the outermost layer of the skin. It can appear as open sores, red patches, rashes, growths, or bumps.
The Skin Cancer Foundation says BCC most commonly occurs when extended exposure to ultraviolet radiation, from the sun or tanning beds, causes DNA damage and uncontrollable growth of basal cells.
Ramsay urged his followers to protect their skin. “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend,” he wrote.
Cancer Research UK commented on the post, thanking Ramsay for raising awareness of this common but preventable cancer. “Thanks for highlighting the importance of staying safe in the sun. Seek shade, cover up, and apply sunscreen regularly and generously,” the organization wrote.
Ramsay is known for leading multiple cooking reality-TV shows, including “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef,” and “Kitchen Nightmares,” which recently returned to television after a 10-year hiatus. His latest series, “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service,” premiered on Fox in May.
