Staying Sun Safe
Ashley Kerekes, M.D., Baptist Health Hardin As a plastic surgeon, I have a lot of tools in my toolbox to address signs of aging, such as volume loss, structure problems and skin laxity. But what many people underestimate is the importance of the quality of the skin. One key way to improve skin quality is to protect it from the sun. As the weather warms, we all want to spend more time outdoors, which is great as long as we do it safely. Damage to the skin is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which not only damages the skin and causes signs of aging, but is also the leading cause of skin cancer. Even small amounts of time tanning or in the sun add up over one’s lifetime. However, there are ways to get outside and avoid direct sun exposure to the skin.
BE SUNSCREEN SAVVY
The CDC recommends wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher daily, even on cloudy or cool days. It is better to wear SPF 30 or greater in the summer when anticipating direct sun exposure or when you will be spending long periods of time outdoors. SPF stands for “sun protection factor” and is the number assigned to sunscreens that rate their effectiveness in blocking UV rays — the higher the SPF, the more protection provided. Check with your pediatrician when using sunscreens on infants younger than 6 months. Sunscreen should be applied liberally to the entire body when anticipating direct sun exposure. Pay special attention to areas not covered by clothing and to the nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and lips. Apply 15 minutes before going outside. You must reapply sunscreen every two hours, after swimming and when sweating. Water-resistant sunscreen is best when you are planning to be in water, but no sunscreen is waterproof. Water-resistant sunscreens are usually effective for about 40-80 minutes of swimming, depending on the type. Don’t forget to check expiration dates. Sunscreen without an expiration date should be replaced three years from the manufactured date and even sooner if exposed to high temperatures.
Sun safe this summer? Show us your sunscreened-up beach photos Etown babes! Tag us in your Instagram photos and stories at @ElizabethtownLifestyle! 72