No such thing
as too much precaution
As the temperatures rise and summer is fast approaching, it can only mean two things – more sun and more skin.
Sunscreen, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats aren’t just for beach vacations and pool-side lounging; they’re for every day use to protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Dermatologist Sarah Glorioso encourages taking extra precautions when it comes to sun exposure.
“Use an SPF 30 or above if you’re going out into the sun,” Glorioso said.
“In fact, it’s recommended to wear a daily SPF on your face. If you’re going to be out [for an extended period of time], you want to be sure you’re using something that’s broad spectrum and protects against UVA and UVB.”
For those who are taking that beach vacation or plan to get out on the water, Glorioso said to be extraordinarily careful to protect your skin as the sand and water re ect more of the sunlight.
She suggested small children seek shade, wear a sun-protective shirt and widebrimmed hat.
“I put [my SPF] on every single day. I tell all my patients my best anti-aging product is my sunscreen,” Glorioso said.
“And besides anti-aging, it’s just protecting you from the non-melanoma skin cancer that comes on your face.”
Glorioso said to seek shade during the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“It’s the bad burns that can predispose you to melanoma,” she said.
Workers who spend the majority of their day outside are the ones who need to pay particular attention to applying daily sunscreen.
“Chronic, everyday sun exposure that outdoor workers get is where you can see those rough, red spots,” Glorioso said.
“So you really want to be sure to apply that daily SPF.”
Other than melanoma, there are two other main types of skin cancer: basal cell cancer (BCC) and squamous cell cancer (SCC).
“Basal and squamous cell are the kinds that are caused by chronic sun exposure, and you see it a lot in outdoor workers,” Glorioso said.
“Melanoma is a little different. It’s more hereditary, and you can see it in anybody, but bad sunburns and tanning bed exposure does increase the risk for it.”
Glorioso suggests having a yearly skin exam to ensure your skin’s health. If unable, she recommends doing a self-body check to look for anything unusual.
“Anything red or scaly that comes up and doesn’t heal, or if you have a bump out of the ordinary or a new or changing mole, then you want to go in and see your doctor,” she said.
“It’s really important to do a self-body check, and if you’re able to have a yearly skin exam, that would be great, too. We [would] check you from head to toe, and if we nd something that we’re concerned about we will do a skin biopsy for a concerning lesion.
“Some people just want you to check a speci c spot, but if you can get the total body check, that would be best.”
In addition to protecting the skin from sun damage, the eyes need to be covered as well.
More than just a fashion statement, sunglasses prove to be extremely useful in the bright days of summer.
“People who have had a lot of sun exposure to their eyes are predisposed to cataracts and even ocular melanoma,” Glorioso said.
“Sunglasses are not just to look cool – you really want to protect your eyes. Make sure they are 100 percent UV protected.”
Sun safety and outdoor protection are necessities for everyone, but a semi-recent trend of tanning beds and salons have added a new dimension in skin care concerns.
“There are increased reports in the incidents of melanoma in younger patients and especially women, and we de nitely
think it’s tanning bed-related,” Glorioso said. “Avoid tanning beds all together. If you feel like you want to look tan, you can use the arti cial self-tanner or a spray tan. You can get a little natural sunlight, but be smart about it.”
There can be many misconceptions when it comes to sun safety.
However, Glorioso says it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Another common mistake is that some people might miss a spot [when applying sunscreen], or they don’t use enough,” she said. “You probably need to use more than you think you need, always use more. You can never have too much.”
