Baby, it’s hot outside...
Temperature aside, what’s hot topic this summer?
Sun protection.
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What?
Sun protection.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Why?
Simple really. One of the most important things you can do in the sunny, summer months is protect your skin. It’s important to educate yourself on the merits of “covering up” and protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Sunburns are bad. Sure we laugh about it when we see how red we “accidentally” got after spending an afternoon outside with little to no clothes (protection) on. But seriously, sunburns are bad. Think about the genetic makeup of the word sunburn. “Burn.” Do you like burnt food? Do we laugh when a family’s home burns down? No. Burns are not a laughing matter, and in terms of a sunburn, you only need to be burned once to put yourself at risk for the development of something far worse down the road: Melanoma. Not so funny now, is it?
Cover up. We glorify tanned, bronzed skin, but what’s the long term expense?
We’re here to tell you: It’s not good.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincancer.org), 42% of Americans admitted in a recent poll that they get sunburned at least once a year. While that may seem innocent enough, but what’s not so innocent is the fact that your chance of developing melanoma doubles if you’ve experienced 5 or more sunburns in a lifetime. Uncool.
Here are some key tips:
- Sun burning bright? Seek shade.
- Avoid burning.
- Avoid tanning.
- It may seem like overkill, but applying sunscreen daily is good practice. SPF 15 and up is best…
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you leave the house. Reapply every couple of hours.
- Cover up! Wear your broad-brimmed sunhat. Wear clothing that covers your skin. And don’t forget your UV protectant sunglasses.
- Visit your dermatologist every year for a professional skin exam.
While we’re on the topic of sunscreen, it was also reported recently that spray-on sunscreen is bad. That’s not totally true. The issue falls mostly in how it’s handled by the handler. Upon reading the directions it is noted that you’re asked to spray the sunscreen on your hands and then apply to your skin from there. It does not state to spray directly over your body. That’s where there is risk of inhaling the harmful chemicals in the canned sunscreen’s propellant. You greatly decrease that by spraying onto your hands and not “letting it fly.” It’s also imperative to apply outdoors, not in the house (so this may not be the best option for application 30 minutes prior to going outside…)
In short, there are many ways to protect yourself from UV ray exposure. The question is, are you proactive in assuring skin health?
What’s the right sunscreen for you? What are other ways to prevent burning? How do you know you’re fully protected? Are your practices effective?
All good questions. We’re ready to tackle them… And remember, as Niki Bryn, APRN, DCNP, likes to say, “Pale is the new tan.”
Feel free to give us a shout anytime! Oh, and don’t forget to schedule your skin exam…
Sincerely,
Your friends at Dermatology & Skin Health
