Captain Cutaneum

Captain Cutaneum is a character-superhero that was created by Phoenix-area dermatopathologist Ruskin R Lines, III, M.D. in 2006. The purpose behind the character is to spread awareness among children of skin health and especially the dangers of excessive sun exposure. Dr. Lines's campaign has been written about by many major newspapers and in the dermatology journal Skin and Allergy News.  

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The Captain Cutaneum campaign is directed mainly towards children in the fifth grade who are at risk for excessive sun exposure^[1] and who, according to Dr. Lines, "aren't blinded by the beauty of the tan."^[2] Wearing a costume that completely covers his skin (and which includes a large, wide blue hat), Captain Cutaneum attempts to teach children about sun safety and the types of cancers caused by sun exposure. During his visits, Lines teaches students what to look for, and shows them images of skin cancers. Lines's intention is not to shock but to teach children the signs of skin cancer and to make them realize that excessive sun exposure is dangerous. He told a reporter for the East Valley Tribune, "A person dies from melanoma every hour in the U.S. As a dermatologist I get to save a lot of lives because people come to see me."^[3]

Lines goes around to elementary schools teaching to teach children about sun protection while they are young, instead of telling them about it while removing their skin cancers. "I’ve been saying there needs to be something, some program that we can teach these kids before they’ve already figured out how much they like being tan," he says. ^[4]

Lines has also created a series of comic books that he does annually. Using colorful pictures and accurate writing, he hopes to educate as well as entertain people of all ages. In the comic, Captain Cutaneum fights the dread enemies Lentigo, Squamous, and (in the future) Melanoma. He also has a website that includes a number of songs about skin health intended to teach children about the importance of remaining safe in the Sun.

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