NATIONAL SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and is caused by excessive sun exposure/UV radiation and numerous sunburns. Protecting your skin with sunscreen is one of the key elements to skin cancer prevention. We went straight to a dermatologist to get her take on what you need in a sunscreen.
The right sunscreen for you is one that you will use consistently. Make sure your sunscreen has both UVA and UVB protection and has at least an SPF of 30. It’s important to choose a sunscreen with a texture you like so you know you will be consistent and reapply. I love the PREVENTION+® collection from IMAGE Skincare! They double as your daily moisturizer and provide the protection you need to sun smarter.
– Dr. Nina Desai, MD FAAD
DR. DESAI’S GUIDE TO SUN SMARTER
APPLY SUNSCREEN DAILY
It is important to wear SPF every day, even on cloudy days as clouds do not block harmful UVA and UVB rays from being absorbed into the skin. When you are indoors, windows also allow UVA rays through. Wearing sunscreen should be a part of your AM routine no matter the weather (or even if you are staying in).
SUNSCREEN DOS AND DONTS
A very important DO is to reapply every 2 – 3 hours if you are in the sun. When you get out of a pool or the ocean, it is time to reapply again. Always remember to bring your sunscreen down to your neck, the “V“ of the chest and backs of the hands.
GET YOUR ANNUAL CHECKUP
Annual skin checks are very important, as a board-certified dermatologist is trained to spot and remove suspicious moles. By getting our skin checked regularly we are being proactive about taking care of our skin and hopefully identifying abnormal spots early. This provides the opportunity to treat them before they have a chance to become malignant or spread.
FIND THE FORMULA FOR YOU
SUNSCREEN 101
Find out when and how much to apply, plus get detailed information on all our sunscreens
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