Three Things You Can Do To Prevent Sun Damage
Were you aware that the sun can penetrate the cloud cover on an overcast day?
"Of course," you may say. However, many Americans don't do anything to protect themselves when the clouds are out. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime." Here are a few tips to consider as you venture out in the world with or without the sun.
- 1
Use sunscreen every single day
You should apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go out. 'Spread at least one ounce - enough to fill a shot glass - on your face and entire body," says Dr. McGinnis. If you are swimming in the ocean or pool, working outside, or otherwise working up a sweat, you should reapply the sunscreen every two hours.
- 2
Use a high quality sunscreen
Your sunscreen should be water resistant, SPF of 30 or higher and contain Broad-Spectrum Protection. WebMD tells us, "broad-spectrum or multi-spectrum protection for both UVB and UVA" is essential. Look for "ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone, or zinc oxide. Any of those should do the trick."
- 3
Protect Your Lips
Dr. Karen McGinnis of Hawthorne Medical states, "the lip is a common site for skin cancer." Therefore, you should use a lip balm with SPF 15 or higher to protect your lips. Also, you should apply it every two hours.