By Leah H. Ansell, M.D., F.A.A.D.
Protecting your skin from the sun during your first summer outing is so critical, yet often overlooked. Unfortunately, most people aren’t prepared to safeguard themselves from the intense damage that the sun can cause. As a board-certified dermatologist in Rye and clinical instructor of dermatology at Columbia University, I always see a surge in visits to my office the week after Memorial Day due to terrible sunburns, cold sore outbreaks and poison ivy.
Now that you”™ve had that first major exposure to the spring/summer sun, here are some tips to help you enjoy the season safely:
- Use a sunscreen with good ingredients ”“ The ingredients in sunscreen are so important and sunscreen quality varies widely. You can”™t go wrong with a mineral sunscreen high in zinc content. Zinc has good coverage against UVB and UVA rays, whereas titanium dioxide (the other ingredient in mineral sunscreen) is not as great at protecting against UVA rays. Most chemical sunscreens in the United States are good at protecting against UVB rays (and hence sunburns) but are not great at protecting against UVA rays, which contribute to photo-aging and skin cancer.
- Reapply sunscreen ”“ I wish once was enough but generally, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially after sweating or swimming.
- Don”™t forget SPF on the lips, ears, tops of feet and your part-line — In addition to wearing SPF on skin, it”™s important to remember these often-neglected areas. Cold sores are commonly triggered by sun, especially at the transition from winter to summer. It’s essential to reapply a good lip SPF and consider taking valacyclovir in anticipation if you have a history of cold sores. I like Aquaphor lip ointment with SPF.
- Wear a hat ”“ Always give your face and lips extra protection with a great summer hat. I love the Coolibar men’s hats and the Eric Javits Squishee visor.
- Treat sunburns effectively ”“ Sunburns are common so be prepared in advance if you don”™t protect yourself. You can find some relief by taking ibuprofen, using cool compresses and applying aloe as an anti-inflammatory to help with healing.
- Wear sunglasses ”“ Prevent crow”™s feet wrinkles and 11-line wrinkles by remembering to wear sunglasses. Less sun exposure and less squinting in bright sun help to protect that delicate skin around the eyes, which also helps prevent skin cancer.
- Be mindful of windows ”“ While you won”™t get a sunburn through windows, UVA light can penetrate windows. Again, as UVA light contributes to photo-aging and skin cancer, you”™ll want to ensure your skin is protected on a sunny road trip.
- Wear a UPF protective shirt ”“ UPF fabric can block up to 98% of the sun’s rays, reducing your sun exposure risk significantly.
- Watch out for ticks ”“ Always remember to check your body thoroughly after being outside and wear high socks/long sleeves whenever possible.
- 10. Be careful of poison ivy ”“ Recognize what poison ivy looks like ahead of time and steer clear. Remember, the resin can remain on your clothing so handle your clothes with care when removing them/washing them. You may not notice an outbreak right away as it often has delayed symptoms, taking up to seven days to present itself.
