“But, I need the sun! This is a phrase that I hear often in my office, especially in the summer, and my general reply is it just is not a healthy choice. Skin cancer rates are rising, and doctors are sharing the news that we must all be increasingly aware of the risk of skin cancer for all ages. The rates of skin cancer in the USA are a concern that we all must take seriously. The need for daily sun protection cannot be overstated.
Risks of Sun Exposure
- Aging, wrinkles and age spots
- Skin Cancer
- Blindness or damage to the eyes
Sun safety should be considered important daily and should include the use of sun protection and doctor visits to have your skin routinely examined for health maintenance and cancer detection and prevention. You can learn more about the various skin cancer treatments we offer at OC Skin Institute by clicking here.
Here are some simple and easy choices to employ daily for the remainder of the summer. It’s not too late to consider sun-safe choices to protect your skin from the excess sun.
Simple Easy Sun Protection
- First-level Protection
- Sunscreen
- Sun protective clothing
- Hats
- Umbrellas
- Sunglasses
Second-level Protection
- Sun avoidance. This should always be a consideration in protecting your skin. It is especially important to avoid the hottest times of the day, around noon.
- Awnings. Awnings can be attached to homes to provide protection from the sun.
- Canopies. Popup canopies are easy to put up and are easily transported.
- Window film. Provides protection from heat and glare. This is a basic level of protection and can usually be easily applied.
- UV film. This is recommended by the Skin Cancer foundation. This film can deflect up to 99 percent of the damaging UV rays sent from the sun.
Sunscreen Selections
There are numerous sunscreen options and selecting one can often be a confusing and daunting task. SPF is an acronym for sun protection factor. SPF is the term that is used to describe the amount of protection that a particular sunscreen product will provide. Higher numbers of SPF indicate that the product will provide a greater level of protection from the sun.
Dermatologist Recommendations
- 50 SPF or above for application on fair facial skin
- 30 SPF or above- for application on fair body skin
- Broad Spectrum in high numbers- use on children or pale complexions. Broad spectrum sunscreen protects from UVA and UVB rays, according to FDA standards.
We recommend SPF 50 and above for the skin of the face of fair-skinned people, and at least 30 and above for the body. For children and those with extra sensitive skin or a particularly pale complexion, higher numbers will do. You want a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum,” which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, according to the FDA.
Children and Sunscreen
Baby Care
Begin protection on a baby as soon as he or she is born and continue to use protection for a lifetime. Fair skinned and blue eyed babies are especially sensitive to the sun’s rays and should be protected with a high-level SPF broad spectrum sunscreen and all the precautions listed above should be taken, such as wearing sun-protective clothing. Most sunblocks are safe for babies, but the best baby sunblocks will contain zinc and/or titanium dioxide.
Children
UV protection should be a daily part of every child’s care. This is a habit that should be as routine as brushing their teeth.
Adults
Adults should utilize UV protection each day. Outdoor workers are especially at risk, due to excess exposure to the sun. They should see a dermatologist and have their skin routinely examined.
To schedule a consultation to have your skin examined, contact our office today.