Proper sun skin care is important for keeping your skin healthy, both for children and adults of all ages. Protecting your skin from the sun is the most important thing you can do to help reduce your risk of skin cancer. Here are ten sun safety tips from Vujevich Dermatology Associates to protect you during the summer season:
1. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is best for proper protection from the sun. Use a broad-spectrum sunblock which protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
2. Apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure
Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside and before putting on your clothes or bathing suit. It takes SPF these 20 minutes to soak into your skin before it is completely protected from UV rays.
3. Use a generous amount of sunscreen
You must apply enough sunscreen to get the SPF protection listed on the bottle. This means that for the entire body you must apply a shot glass size amount of sunscreen and use at least a teaspoon amount on your face. It’s more than you think, so load up!
4. Re-apply sunscreen frequently
Most people remember to apply sunscreen initially before heading out for some fun in the sun, but many forget that the protection wears off eventually. How often should sunscreen be reapplied? It is necessary to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, even if you are not swimming or sweating.
5. Use other means of sun protection besides just sunscreen
Although sunscreen is the first and strongest line of defense, it’s still ultimately beneficial not to subject your skin excessively to the sun, even with sunscreen on. Do your best to find shade or protect your skin in other ways in addition to sunscreen. Consider wearing a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, light clothing, or using a large umbrella when visiting the beach. There is also plenty of fashionable sun protection clothing for all of us fashionistas out there!
6. Limit sun exposure, particularly during peak UV hours
It is best to limit long periods of sun exposure, especially between 10am and 4pm when sun is the strongest.
7. In certain situations, wear sunscreen inside
Even if you are inside around a lot of windows or driving a car while it is very sunny, you should wear sunscreen. You are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for brief periods throughout the day, especially when near windows, which generally filter out UVB but not UVA rays.
8. Apply sunscreen first, then makeup
Many makeup products contain SPF, but this should be thought of as additional coverage and should never be used as your only form of sun protection on your face. It is recommended to wear sunscreen underneath your makeup during sun exposure. Many people prefer to use sunscreen with a matte base before applying makeup, as it provides a primer-esque canvas on which to apply other products. Since sunscreen should be reapplied throughout the day, consider carrying a sunscreen stick formula or powder sunscreen for easy reapplication over your makeup. However, for optimal protection, your first coat of sunscreen should be applied before you add any makeup products.
9. Check your sunscreen’s expiration date
Though it’s tempting to take out that old bottle of sunscreen in your cabinet from last year, keep it fresh. The active ingredients in sunscreens can lose their potency, so it is important to check the expiration date on your sunscreen.
10. Apply sunscreen thoroughly, without neglecting smaller parts of your body
Oftentimes people forget to apply sunscreen on smaller parts of their body. It’s important to apply sunscreen everywhere, but extra thoroughly on your neck, ears, nose, hands, and toes, and even lightly under your eyes. Your lips are often forgotten as well, look for lip balm with SPF 30.
Additional Sunscreen Application Tips
How to apply sunscreen to your face
Always cleanse and moisturize your face thoroughly before applying sunscreen. Then apply sunscreen generously to your face and neck, all the way to your hairline on all sides. Once you’ve added sunscreen to the larger areas of your face, use your fingertips to apply it to smaller areas like your nose, chin, and all sides of your ears.
How to apply sunscreen to your back
The back is an often-neglected area for sun protection for beachgoers, due to the difficulties involved with reaching certain areas, especially between the shoulder blades. If you don’t have someone readily available to help you, consider using an applicator. Spray sunscreen can also be used for areas that are harder to reach, although it still should be rubbed in for best protection and is generally not as thorough as lotions.
Any skin that is not fully and consistently covered by clothing should be coated in sunscreen, so if you are wearing loose clothing or tank tops with straps that slide easily, you should cover your whole shoulder area with sunscreen. There is no such thing as too much sun protection!
How to apply sunscreen and moisturizer
If you moisturize before putting on sunscreen, always give your moisturizer a few minutes to fully absorb into your skin before you apply sunscreen on top of it. This provides the best circumstances for both products to do their job!
In addition to practicing sun safety tips, it is important to get your skin examined. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. In-office skin cancer screenings, as well as self-skin exams, are important pieces for early detection. If you have further questions about sun skin care best practices, contact us today. You can check our Skin Cancer Screening page to get more information on what is involved in our screening process.
Vujevich Dermatology Associates offers medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology from some of the most highly trained physicians and clinicians in the greater Pittsburgh area. You can reach our team at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to see our locations in Mt. Lebanon, Washington, and Pleasant Hills. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.