Skin cancer is on the rise. Here are some tips from Dr. Heather Rogers on sun protection.
Here are some tips and information from Dr. Brandith Irwin and Dr. Heather Rogers at Madison Skin & Laser Center:
- Use a sunscreen on your face, neck, chest and hands daily.
- Wear a hat that protects your face and ears—especially if you are losing hair.
- Wear large close-fitting sunglasses with UV protection to protect against eye damage and wrinkles around the eyes.
- Stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm, when the radiation is the strongest.
- Cover up! Try UV protective clothing (a typical white T-shirt only has an SPF of 7).
- Be sure that you take 2,000 units of vitamin D daily if you use regular sunscreen and live in the Northwest. Ask your primary care doctor or dermatologist to test your blood level of vitamin D.
Picking a Good Sunscreen
There are so many options, but the key is to find a sunscreen you like and will use regularly.
- For daily wear if you are mostly inside, a facial moisturizer or sunscreen with SPF 30 is ideal and easy to use.
- For days spent outdoors, a higher SPF is recommended with "broad-spectrum" (better UVA) protection. Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide, titanium (5% of greater), Mexoryl 3% or "stabalized" Parsol/avobenzone. These all give excellent UVA and UVB protection.
Layering sunscreens is a very good idea in sun sensative patients or patients prone to melasma. For example, after the application of a cream sunscreen apply a tinted powder sunscreen like Colorescience SPF 30.
Sunscreen Options:
- For daily use: Elta MD Facial SPF 30+, SkinMedica SPF 30+, Olay Complete SPF 30, Anthelios SPF 15 or 40, Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30+, ROC Daily Moisturize SPF 30, EltaMD UV lotion SPF 30 for the body
- Sensitive Skin: Vanicream SPF 30, Elta MD Physical SPF 41, SkinCeuticals Physical SPF 30, Colorescience Powder SPF 30
- For outdoor occupations or athletes: Elta MD Physical SPF 41, Elta MD Sport SPF 50, SkinCeuticals SPF 45 Sport, DermaQuest ZinClear SPF 30, Neutrogena Helioplex SPF 55+. Layer with Colorescience Powder for superb sun protection that is sweat resistant.
- Sprays: Shady Day SPF 30, Neutrogena Helioplex Cooling Mist SPF 55+
- Wipes: Shady Day Daily Sun Protection Wipes SPF 30
- Lips: Jane Iredale Lip Drink SPF 15, Vanicream Lip Protectant SPF 30, Nivea Lip Care SPF 30
- Eyes: Colorescience Eye Camouflage, Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF 15
Resources
www.skintour.com/skin-care-products/sunscreens. More sunscreen tips by Dr. Brandith Irwin.
www.coolibar.com. Sun protective clothing.
www.sunprecautions.com. Sun protective clothing.