Preventive Care - Skin savers

Essential Skin Savers

Make sunscreen a regular habit: Don’t save it for the beach; you’re just as likely to get burned on the sidelines at a soccer game. Keep sunscreen in your car, in your purse, and in your child’s backpack. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen when you sweat or are in the water. 

Take special care of your face: If you’re outside for more than 15 minutes a day, you need to protect your delicate facial skin. Use a daily moisturizer or foundation with SPF 15 and a protective lip balm all year long. The best way to minimize surface wrinkles is to use an exfoliating cleanser and a moisturizer. There are lots of good, inexpensive options at your drugstore.

Stay out of the sun:  Avoid the sun’s harsh rays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.  Even if the day is overcast, the sun can cause damage.  Don’t forget to bring and use your hat and sunglasses.  Stay under the shades of trees or covered areas. 

Skip tanning salons: Indoor tanning may seem like a quick and easy way to look better – especially when you can’t get away on vacation like you used to- but it’s not safe. Recent research has proven that exposure to the UVA rays in tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. And getting a base tan won’t protect your skin from sun damage. If you’re embarrassed about your pale legs, use a self-tanner.

Look out for skin changes: Pay attention to whether your moles change in any way: asymmetry, blurred borders, variations in color, or increasing size can all be signs of melanoma, especially those that are larger than the top of a pencil eraser. Non-melanoma skin cancers are harder to detect; you may notice a scaly patch of skin that gets sore and bleeds easily. Any non-healing skin lesion should be looked at by your doctor.