Beyond the Clinic: How the Mobile Destination Healthy Skin Initiative Saved Peter Graylin’s Life

Image Credit: © EltaMD

As we celebrate Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Peter Graylin, MBA, Deputy Chief Legal Officer of Colgate-Palmolive’s international division and melanoma survivor, spoke to Dermatology Times about a chance encounter that would profoundly change his life. His skin cancer journey began in the summer of 2022, when his brother-in-law noticed an irregular spot on his calf. Graylin dismissed it as he had historically approached skin care, sun safety, and dermatology with what he admits was “contemptuous neglect.” But according to Graylin, fate intervened days later. In Manhattan, outside his office, he stumbled upon the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Destination Healthy Skin mobile unit, a public outreach initiative supported by EltaMD, a brand within his own company’s portfolio.

“It was emblazoned with a brand I use and know well. And I thought, ‘This is good luck, isn't it?’” Graylin said, “Had it happened a few days later, I'm not sure I would have put the two together.”

When he was examined by the doctor on site, the lesion that his brother-in-law had noticed a few days prior raised red flags and checked off several boxes on the ABCDE checklist for melanoma. Within days, a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of stage 0 melanoma in situ. Though caught early, the condition required surgical excision. Graylin described the removal of a “shark bite of flesh” from his calf, necessitated by the tightness of the skin and the need for a safe margin around the lesion.

This experience transformed Graylin into what he calls an “evangelist” for skin checks and sun safety. Growing up in Africa, he lived an outdoor life playing sports under intense sun exposure, with little knowledge of the long-term risks. Sunscreen was nonexistent, and a hat was what he called a “lucky appendage.” With a fairly robust view on skin care, Graylin always had relatively clear skin with no family history of skin cancer and only occasionally visited a dermatologist for check-ups.

“I'm appreciative of my luck. And I think I'd be foolish not to recognize that and also not to tell others about it,” Graylin noted. “I'd grown up and lived in a dangerous environment from a UV perspective...And you need to look after yourself.”

He now sees his dermatologist every 6 months and is more conscientious about sun protection. He uses a range of EltaMD sunscreens and now prioritizes hats, sleeves, and sunscreen when outdoors, aware of the risks he once ignored.

“I’m a much better user of sunscreen,” Graylin said. “I’m not perfect, but I’m a lot better than I was."

Graylin’s story underscores the effectiveness and necessity of mobile dermatology programs. He believes the success of initiatives like Destination Healthy Skin lies in their accessibility, as patients don’t have to book months in advance to see their providers or struggle to find a dermatologist if they do not have one nearby. For patients like him with limited time or awareness, mobile units provide an essential point of entry into preventive care.

His experience also reflects a broader challenge in dermatology: reaching those who don’t perceive themselves as at risk.

“You go into these things thinking, ‘It doesn't happen to me, it happens to others,’” Graylin said. “Things change. These things come out of nowhere...The path of these things can be aggressive, and the results can be fatal.”

When asked what message he would share with dermatologists, Graylin highlighted the importance of clarity and decisiveness. His doctor’s immediate response likely changed the course of his health, as she didn’t take no for an answer. That kind of urgency can make all the difference, and he stresses to patients not to wait. He reflects often on the serendipitous sequence of events that led to his diagnosis and recovery, knowing how easily it could have gone another way.

Graylin’s story is a compelling reminder of how skin cancer can touch anyone, regardless of background, appearance, or perceived risk. It’s also a testament to the life-saving power of programs like Destination Healthy Skin, which promote awareness, access, and action as dermatologists continue to advocate for early prevention and detection of all patients.

As Graylin puts it, “That's pretty much the story. It's relatively a straight one, and one of good luck and good fortune and serendipity. And my only hope is that it encourages others to learn from my experience and just get checked and wear sunscreen.”