Now that summer has officially arrived, you’ll probably be spending more time outdoors. But whether you’re in the garden, on the golf course or at the beach, protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays is of utmost importance.
“Too much sun exposure causes not only wrinkles and age spots but skin cancer,” warns Naomi Lawrence, M.D., Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Cooper University Hospital. “Skin cancer rates are on the rise,” she said, “and melanoma rates, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are rising the fastest.”
Dr. Lawrence, a renowned expert in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, the most state-of-the art and precise surgery for skin cancer, offers the following advice for keeping your skin healthy during the summer months:
- Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 to all exposed skin. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply sunscreen every one to two hours while outside.
- Wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
- Seek shade when possible, and remember that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Protect children from sun exposure by providing shady play areas, using protective clothing and applying sunscreen.
- Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
- Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.
- Check your skin regularly, and if you notice anything changing, growing or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
If you think your local tanning salon is a safer option, think again. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, indoor tanning before the age of 35 has been associated with a significant increase in the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Yet, more than one million Americans – 70 percent of which are girls and women, primarily 16 to 29 years of age – visit tanning salons every day.
“There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ tan,” Dr. Lawrence said. “People who tan – whether indoors or outdoors – are damaging their skin, period.” If you enjoy the look of a tan, Dr. Lawrence suggests using a sunless self-tanning product. “But continue using sunscreen as well,” she said.