Sensible precautions can prevent summer skin care issues
As April showers are set to bring May flowers, summer is just around the corner. Summer means a lot of different things to people. For children, it means a welcome respite from school and the ability to play all day and night. Parents often lament the coming of summer as they will have to find supervision for their children or watch the little tykes themselves. Summer also means trips to the beach, backyard cookouts, fireworks on the Fourth of July, and even perhaps going on the family vacation. While summer is definitely considered the fun season, it can also be treacherous when it comes to one’s skin. The sun’s rays may be life-giving, but they can also be punishing to one’s skin. Experienced dermatologists, such as Dr. F. Victor Rueckl of Lakes Dermatology in Las Vegas, help their patients to protect themselves by offering some skin care protection tips to safely navigate them through the summer season.
Exposure to UV rays is the biggest factor individuals have to contend with during the summer as exposure to them damages the skin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that the sun’s UV rays can damage a person’s skin in just 15 minutes. (1) While older generations considered getting a sunburn to be a rite of passage during summer, the truth is that sunburns can lead to skin care complications later in life. The CDC reports that more than one-third of adults and a staggering seventy percent of children reported being sunburned within the past year. (2) Sun-damaged skin can eventually lead to some form of skin cancer, especially melanoma. One in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and it is estimated that 10,130 people will die from melanoma in 2016 and that a full 76,380 new cases will be diagnosed. (3) This is why licensed medical professionals, such as Dr. James Q. Del Rosso of Lakes Dermatology, constantly tell their patients to limit their exposure to UV rays.
UV rays not only stream down from the sun, but they also reflect off of surfaces such as water and sand. An obvious tip to protect oneself from the harmful rays of the sun during summer is to take advantage of any shade available. If one is going to the beach, take a large umbrella for the family to sit under. A shady tree is the perfect complement to an outdoor picnic. Shade can also be provided by wearing a hat that has a wide brim that covers the face, ears, neck, and head. Another method that dermatologists, such as Dr. F. Victor Rueckl of Lakes Dermatology in Las Vegas, recommend to protect one’s skin from UV rays is to cover up by wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs. Sunglasses are another useful weapon in the skin care arsenal as they protect the eyes and the areas surrounding them. It is highly recommended that one buys sunglasses that protect against 100% of the sun’s UV rays, and parents should make sure that their children wear them as well. The American Academy of Ophthalmology found in a 2014 survey that only 32% of parents had their children wearing sunglasses that were rated to block UV light. (4)
Of course, the biggest tip for protecting one’s skin during the summer months is to use sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people use a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB rays), is water resistant, and has a SPF rating of 30 or higher. (5) Any skin that is not covered by clothing should get an application of sunscreen, and a person should apply sunscreen a full fifteen minutes before they head outdoors. Sunscreen should be reapplied roughly every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating profusely. Licensed dermatologists, such as Dr. James Q. Del Rosso of Lakes Dermatology, also remind their patients to check the date on their bottle of sunscreen to see if it is still good.
Dr. F. Victor Rueckl of Lakes Dermatology offers, “While summer is one season that everybody looks forward to, some precautions should be taken to protect one’s skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. Sunscreen should always be used before venturing outdoors, and it’s always smart to cover up with clothing and to wear a wide-brimmed hat to lower exposure. Both children and adults should wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays to protect the eyes, and it is highly advisable to stay indoors or stay in the shade from 10am to 2pm when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.” (6)
Dr. James Q. Del Rosso of Lakes Dermatology in Las Vegas adds, “While we dermatologists always lecture our patients about sunscreen, it behooves us to remember that our lips are susceptible to sun damage too. This means that lip balm should be applied as well when going outdoors. Other useful skin care precautions include remaining fully hydrated by drinking lots of water, not soda. Moisturizing one’s skin also helps protect it, and exfoliating the skin also helps to improve hydration from moisturizers and prevents congestion by removing skin debris. Summer is a time for fun, but one should always make sure that such fun does not come with a steep price in the form of skin cancer later in life.” (7)
While there are risks associated with skin damage from exposure to UV rays, summer can still be a great season for fun in the sun if simple precautions are taken. A quick consultation with any professional dermatologist, such as Dr. F. Victor Rueckl of Lakes Dermatology, will arm an individual with the knowledge needed to fully protect their skin from the sun while enjoying summer activities.
References:
1) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm
2) http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/sunburn
3) http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts
4) http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/how-to-pick-good-sunglasses?page=2
5) https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care/sunscreen-faqs
6) Quote from Dr. F. Victor Rueckl, dermatologist at Lakes Dermatology
7) Quote from Dr. James Q. Del Rosso, dermatologist at Lakes Dermatology
