SUMMER SKIN CARE
SUMMER SKIN CARE
The harmful effects of prolonged exposure to UV rays is something we all need to keep in mind this summer season. Skin cancer is America’s most common cancer with over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year.1 By not taking the proper steps to protect their skin before beach days and using tanning beds, individuals can rapidly increase their risk. A majority of nonmelanoma and melanoma cases are related to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
There are multiple ways to avoid damaging your skin from the sun, and a combination would only protect you more. Just by reminding our friends and family about the importance of skin care, we can keep our skin younger for longer and save lives.
The Long Term Effects
A sunburn may not seem like a dire emergency right now, but we need to remember that it’s the long term affects we want to avoid. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States AND worldwide.2
- Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
- 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
- More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
- Indoor tanning devices can emit UV radiation in amounts 10 to 15 times higher than the sun at its peak intensity.
- In the U.S., more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. More than two people die of the disease every hour.
- People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen daily reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent.
What to Look Out For
Not a perfect circle? Get it checked. Be on the alert for moles with blurred, irregular, or poorly defined borders. Pay special attention to spots with multiple colors. Look for pink or blue spots, too, not just dark ones. The American Cancer Society advises getting anything bigger than six millimeters across checked, but experts we talked to say don’t wait until a bothersome spot gets larger to get it looked at. Doctors also recommend looking for evolving spots. Take progress pictures of any you want to keep an eye on.
Beat the Burn with The 6 Basics of Skin Care
Did you know that there are 5 different skin types? Normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive. To determine which category you fall into, you need to remember that it depends on factors like,
- How much water is in your skin?
- How oily is your hair?
- How sensitive is it?
The factors mentioned above help determine your skins elasticity, comfort and softness, which allows you to buy proper care products. However, no matter what skin type you may possess, the tips below will keep your skin glowing!
- Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
- Avoid direct sunlight, wear a hat and sunglasses.
- Don’t smoke.
- Stay hydrated.
- Wash your skin gently but thoroughly every day and never wear makeup to bed.
- Moisturize.
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Information on this topic provided by:
MUNCE, G. M. (2021, March 24). The Great Millennial Skin Cancer Crisis. Men’s Health. https://www.menshealth.com/health/a35927240/melanoma-skin-cancer-rise-millennials/#:~:text=Skin%20Check%20101%3A%20Look%20for%20ABCDE&text=Be%20on%20the%20alert%20for,irregular%2C%20or%20poorly%20defined%20borders.&text=Pay%20special%20attention%20to%20spots,too%2C%20not%20just%20dark%20ones.
Skin Cancer Foundation. (2021, January 13). Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics. Skincancer.Org. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/
Skin Cancer Foundation. (2021, January 13). May Is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skincancer.Org. https://www.skincancer.org/get-involved/skin-cancer-awareness-month/#:~:text=With%20over%205%20million%20cases,most%20preventable%20forms%20of%20cancer.
WebMD LLC. (2021, January 1). What’s Your Skin Type? Radience by WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/whats-your-skin-type#1
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