The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of the Summer Sun
How do you enjoy the summer sun and all the good it has to offer without exposing yourself to the bad and the ugly? Dermatologists always recommend sensible sun protection. That means avoiding all sunburns. Sunburns are proven to cause melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Even routine suntanning leads to skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. So, dermatologists recommend that you sensibly avoid the sun and/or use sunscreens. Which begs the next question...
Which sunscreen is best?
Most people should have two: a waterproof sunscreen for swimming and a moisturizer with SPF for routine use. The SPF number tells how long it takes for sunlight to wear out and burn through a suncreen. SPF 30 lasts twice as long as SPF 15. On a bright midday, especially if you’re near water, even an SPF 30 may need to be reapplied every couple of hours. Many easy-to-use sunscreens are available. The newer sprays can be more convenient. The next new thing is an SPF 30 in a wipe, which is available through many retailers, including online sources.
What do you do if you get a sunburn?
The most important thing is to learn from your mistake and prevent the next one. To make the inflammation and pain from a sunburn feel better and subside quicker, try taking an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen.
Remember, sunshine can be good, can do bad, and can cause ugly. But with sensible use of sunscreens you should be able to enjoy the summertime, prevent skin cancers and maintain youthful, healthy-looking skin.
For more information
For more information about how to protect yourself from the sun, click here.
Additional information is available here.
To find out how much you know about sunscreen, take this quiz.
This news brief was provided by dermatologist Louis Kuchnir, MD. Visit Dr. Kuchnir’s web site to learn more about the services provided at this practice.