1. Ignoring the label

There are a variety of sunscreens on the market. To effectively protect yourself choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water-resistant and provides broad-spectrum coverage (meaning it covers you from both UVA and UVB rays)

1. Using too little

Adults need about 1 ounce (size of a golf ball/shot glass) to fully cover their body. Apply a liberally amount to all areas of the body before getting dressed and going outside to allow more time for your skin to absorb and provide the best protection

1. Applying too infrequently

Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours while outdoors and more frequently if your skin will become wet with activities such as swimming or sweating. Individuals who get sunburned usually don’t use enough sunscreen or didn’t reapply after being in the sun.

1. Relying solely on sunscreen

Don’t forget lip balm with SPF, wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with UV protection, and UPF clothing. Heliocare is an oral supplement that works as an antioxidant to help prevent UV damage and skin aging when used in combination with sunscreen.

Sunscreen is meant to protect your skin against skin cancer and premature aging. However, it is not as effective unless it is applied correctly! Make sure you follow these tips to ensure adequate protection.

As always, if you have any questions about this information or simply need to speak with someone regarding your skin health, then please give us a call.

Village Dermatology

Other recommended reading:

6 myths about skin cancer

How to check yourself for skin cancer

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/prevent/sunscreen-apply

The post Five ways you may be applying sunscreen incorrectly appeared first on Village Dermatology.

1. Tanning beds are generally safer than UV rays from the sun

FALSE. Tanning beds have the same harmful UV rays as the sun and in much greater amounts. Using tanning beds increases your risk of skin cancer, including the deadliest form, melanoma.

1. Individuals who tan easily and rarely burn do not get skin cancer

FALSE. There is no such thing as a “healthy” tan. Any change to your natural skin color is a sign of skin damage, and tanning greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer. When skin is exposed to UV radiation, it increases the production of melanin in an attempt to protect the skin from further damage. Over time this leads to skin cancer and premature aging.

1. Dark-skinned people are not at risk for sun damage and skin cancer.

FALSE. Naturally, dark-skinned individuals have a lower risk of skin cancer than fair-skinned people. It is still recommended that they take precautions and protect their skin and eyes from overexposure to the sun as they can still develop skin cancers and UV damage.

1. Only older people get skin cancer

FALSE. Prevention counts at all ages! Melanoma is the most common form of cancer in young adults ages 25-29, and the second most common form of cancer in individuals 15-29 years old. One of the biggest factors when it comes to skin cancer is your exposure to UV over the course of your lifetime, including your childhood years into young adulthood.  For this reason, monthly skin checks are so important to look for changes in size, shape, or color of spots on your skin or sores that do not heal. Pay extra careful attention to moles, especially flat, dark ones.

1. You need sun exposure to get vitamin D

FALSE. Individuals get enough of this essential nutrient from your diet and typical daily exposure. It does not require baking in the sun and increase your risk of skin cancer from excessive exposure.

1. Only sun exposure causes skin cancer

FALSE. Sun exposure is the primary cause, but other causes may include UV exposure from tanning beds/occupational equipment, family history of skin cancer and other genetic factors, increasing age, and a weakened immune system.

If you have any questions or concerns about any odd or noticeable spot on your skin, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Village Dermatology

We have more information about skin cancer below:

How to check yourself for skin cancer 

The post 6 Myths About Skin Cancer appeared first on Village Dermatology.

Most individuals don’t know that one out of every five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime?  Fortunately, the majority of cases are curable if they are diagnosed and treated early, which makes early detection crucial. What can you do?  First, see your dermatologist annually for a full-body exam.  If you are someone that is at a higher risk, more frequent exams may be recommended.  Monthly self-skin exams at home are just as important.  Look for any spots that are new (Hey, what’s that?), changing (your spots shouldn’t change) or unusual (one of these things is not like the others) and if you find any of the following, get it evaluated by your dermatologist as soon as possible.

You may be asking what is a self-exam, and how do I perform one at home?  In a well- lit room using a full-length mirror and handheld mirror, start with your scalp and work your way down.  Starting with the scalp, have a friend or family member flip through every section of the scalp.  For those with thick or curly hair, a hairdryer may be helpful so the scalp can be adequately examined.  Moving down on to the face, inspect your nose, lips, mouth, and ears – don’t forget the back of your ears.  Check hands front and back and between fingers and under nails (remove nail polish).  Continue up the arms front and back using your full-length mirror for those hard to see areas.  Check elbows up to underarms, yes things can hide out here too!  Next, check your neck and work your way down to the chest and torso.  For females, make sure to check the underside of the breasts. Using your full-length mirror and handheld check back of the neck, shoulders, upper back, and backs of arms.  Scan lower back, buttock, and backs of legs. Use your handheld mirror to check around the genitalia and groin. Sitting down, examine the front of the legs and finish with ankles and feet, including soles and between the toes.  Make sure to check toenails (again, make sure polish is removed).

A great campaign developed by the Skin Cancer Organization is called “The Big See.”  The goal of this campaign aims to inspire individuals to get to know their skin.  Furthermore, it encourages you to look in the mirror and keep these three words in mind: New, Changing, or Unusual. Check it out here https://thebigsee.org

The American Academy of Dermatology also has some great resources on their website on how to SPOT skin cancer.  Check out the link listed before for more information on what to look for and how to perform a skin self-exam.

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/how-to-spot-skin-cancer

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/check-skin

The post How to check yourself for skin cancer appeared first on Village Dermatology.