“When my MD husband began his dermatology residency, I was worried that my adult acne would ruin his career. Now after 33 years, I've learned that avoiding excessive sun exposure is the key to healthy skin.” – Lori George, RN
You already know that it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. But how often do you actually take sun precautions?
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US and around the world. An estimated one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they turn 70. Two people die of skin cancer in the US each hour: These are shocking statistics that demonstrate exactly how important it is to care for your skin.
Fortunately, it is possible to decrease your risk of skin cancer, and keep your skin looking young and beautiful. The key is to take regular sun precautions.
Experts report that having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma, and that about 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Here at Laser Cosmetic Center, we see dozens of clients each year who want to reverse skin damage caused by sun exposure. In this post, we’ll discuss which sun precautions to take to protect your skin, and how to avoid premature aging from the sun.
Let’s dive in.
What Happens When You Get a Sunburn?
All burns are not created equal. What happens during a sunburn isn’t the same as what happens when you burn your hand on a hot pan. Instead, sunburns are the result of ultraviolet radiation (UV rays), which cause damage to the skin.
While skin cells are capable of absorbing UV radiation in limited quantities, excessive radiation damages the skin cells. This causes cell DNA to mutate. To protect itself against damage, the skin produces cells called melanocytes, which produce melanin.
This pigment protects against damage and makes the skin look tan. If you stay in the sun past that point, the damage may be beyond repair, and the cells will die off. Blood vessels then dilate to boost blood flow and stimulate immune cell response to help clean up the dead cells. This process causes the redness, inflammation, and swelling we know as a sunburn.
While the sunburn will eventually heal, the excess UV radiation that caused it means the surviving cells will have mutations that they cannot repair. Eventually, these mutations can become cancerous.
3 Sun Precautions Everyone Should Take
Next time you get ready to head outside, check off this list of sun precautions first.
1. Wear sunscreen (and apply it correctly)
This seems simple, but it’s the most important thing you can do to protect your skin. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology, 28% of people “rarely” or “never” use sun protection, which includes wearing sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
To reverse this trend and protect your skin, wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Here’s why this is so important:
Sunscreens protect the skin by blocking the skin from absorbing excess ultraviolet (UV) rays, which lead to skin cancer and sunburns. While there’s no sunscreen that blocks 100% of UV radiation, regularly applying sunscreen can help your skin build a protective layer.
Remember that higher SPF numbers mean greater protection from the sun’s rays. While a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 blocks about 97% of UV rays, SPF 50 blocks 98% of UV rays. We recommend sunscreens from EltaMD, as they protect the skin and contain no harsh chemicals or additives.
How to apply sunscreen
It sounds simple, right? Still, how easy it is to get wrong may surprise you. Many people don’t apply enough sunscreen, or don’t apply it correctly. To prevent as much skin damage as possible, follow these tips:
Apply sunscreen to all skin that your clothing doesn't cover.
Use a minimum of one ounce of sunscreen (about the quantity that would fill a standard shot glass) to cover exposed skin.
Apply the sunscreen to clean, dry skin at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.
Reapply sunscreen at least once every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
2. Stay inside during peak hours
In addition to wearing sunscreen, protect yourself by staying inside during the hours between 10am-2pm, when the sun’s rays are the most intense. If you have outdoor chores to do, or you enjoy outdoor recreation, get outside in the early morning or evening, when the sun is less intense and less likely to cause damage to the skin.
3. Wear protective clothing
When you are outdoors, be sure to cover up. We recommend wearing sun-protective clothing like hats and long-sleeve shirts. Most activewear brands now make active clothing designed to be functional while also blocking harmful UV rays.
Bonus: avoid tanning beds
Indoor tanning is one of the biggest risk factors for skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even a single indoor tanning session increases the risk of developing life-threatening melanoma before age 35 by 75%. Additionally, there are more skin cancer cases worldwide due to indoor tanning than there are lung cancer cases arising from smoking.
Keep Your Skin Beautiful: Laser Cosmetic Center can Help
Worried that staying safe from the sun means you can never get a tan again? Think again. While experts agree that the safest tan is no tan at all (tanning, after all, is a sign of sun damage), you can enjoy the sun safely.
To get outside without skin damage, we recommend applying sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds, and limiting sun exposure. To get that summer-glow without the sun, consider using self-tanner or investing in a spray tan, which does not penetrate the skin or damage the cells.
You can also take certain supplements that help the body repair sun damage and fight cancerous cells, although you should talk to your doctor before adding a new supplement to your diet.
If you already have skin damage from sun exposure, we offer multiple treatments including dermasweep, Fraxel Dual, laser genesis, and more. These treatments can remove non-cancerous brown spots and help you hold on to that beautiful, youthful glow.
Ready to learn more about our team, our treatments, or how we can help you avoid excess sun damage? Contact us today.