Make sunscreen part of a daily routine

It might seem as though sunscreen is unnecessary on cloudy days, or days when you think you’ll only be outside for a short time, but Dr. Pon recommends putting on sunscreen every day, no matter what.

“It’s a good habit, a good routine to get into every day,” she says, adding that weather can be unpredictable, and a day that starts cloudy and overcast could become bright and sunny later on. “You should prepare for the day, not just for that instance when you’re out.”

And while it might seem that sunscreen only needs to be a part of a summer routine, Dr. Pon says people should continue to wear sunscreen in the winter months as well.

“UV rays can bounce off the snow and ice and get reflected, so it’s important to use sunscreen all year round, and every day.”

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Skin cancer: warning signs and symptoms

The COVID-19 pandemic means a lot of our activities and socializing will be outside this summer. While we’re enjoying the warm weather and sunshine, it’s important to remember sun safety, and that includes being aware of any skin changes that could indicate skin cancer.

Melanoma

Pay attention to moles that are asymmetrical, have a diameter of 6mm (larger than a pencil eraser), have an uneven border, have changed colour or have changed rapidly.

Basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma

Typically found on face, upper chest, neck; areas with high sun exposure

Basal cell carcinoma is often a sore that will bleed, scab and bleed again without healing, and it grows slowly over time.

Squamous cell carcinoma is often a crusty sore that won’t heal and can also grow slowly over time.

Early detection is very important for skin cancer, so if you have any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your family doctor, who can refer you to a dermatologist if necessary.

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Selecting a sunscreen

“The best sunscreen is the one that you like and that you’re going to use,” says Dr. Pon. She says it should be a minimum of SPF 30, but other than that, whether it’s a cream, spray or even tinted sunscreen doesn’t matter as long as you’ll wear it daily.

Dr. Pon does say not to rely on SPF in moisturizers or makeup as the only sunscreen you wear, though.

“Typically, these have a lower SPF than an SPF 30,” she says. “Also, more than half a teaspoon is recommended for the face and neck, and people don’t put that much makeup on their face.”

If you’re going to be outside for the day, plan to reapply sunscreen every two to three hours, and more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming. You should be applying more than half a teaspoon of sunscreen to each arm, and more than a teaspoon to the chest, torso, back and each leg.

Know your skin

In addition to wearing sunscreen daily, it’s important for people to check their skin for any changes that could indicate sun damage. For those who have a lot of moles, freckles or spots, Dr. Pon says an easy way to track any changes is to take pictures of the spots and use them for reference.

“We do recommend people check their moles once a month,” says Dr. Pon. “I always recommend to my patients the first day of the month or the last day of the month, so it becomes routine.”

The post Tips for protecting your skin from the sun this summer appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Our long winter means I want to get outside ASAP. I know I’m not the only one who wants to shake off the winter cobwebs with some fresh air!

But before we do, remember these tips from a dermatologist to help us protect our skin from the sun.

A history of sunburns increases the risk of skin cancer, including melanomas. Sun exposure can also cause wrinkles, dry skin and age spots.

Dr. Mary McKenzie, dermatologist in Sunnybrook’s Melanoma Clinic, recommends using a sunscreen 30 SPF or higher if you will be outside. Some make-up and face creams now have SPF between 15 and 30 – that’s OK for your daily use. (For example, if you are just going from your house to car to head to the grocery story and back but not spending time outside, that makeup will provide enough coverage.) If you’ll be outside longer — to take a walk, sit in the backyard or wait in line outside of the hardware store, reach for an SPF 30 or higher. If your skin gets irritated after applying sunscreen, try a mineral formula. If you tend to break out after applying sunscreen, try a formula that is made for acne-prone skin.

While skin cancer is more common in people with light or pale skin, red hair or freckled skin, people with other skin types and tones are not without risk. People of all complexions should also wear sunscreen daily and practice sun safety.

Lips are super sensitive, and should be protected from the sun, particularly when you are near water (which reflects the sun). Try a chapstick with 30 SPF or more. And reapply often. Some colour lipsticks also offer SPF protection.

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the commonly missed places — your ears, tops of your feet and hands. Wear a hat to protect the top of your scalp (in particular if your hair is thin, fair or if you are bald) or apply sunscreen on the top of your head. Dr. McKenzie says the top of the head is a common trouble spot when it comes to skin cancers.

Cover up or find shade

There are ways to cover up besides sunscreen. Wear light, long-sleeve clothing to protect your skin. Linens are nice and airy. Or there’s sun-protective clothing available too. Wear a hat. Avoid the outdoors mid-afternoon when the sun is at its peak. Seek shade. Carry an umbrella.

And wear shades

Dr. McKenzie doesn’t recommend putting sunscreen on your eyelids – sweat can make the sunscreen run into the eyes and sting. Sunglasses do double duty – they protect the eyeballs and the eyelids. So don’t forget them!

If you find your eyes do sting (often from sunscreen mixed with forehead sweat) try a mineral sunscreen.

Rub it in

Be sure to put a thick coating of sunscreen on your skin (about a shot glass worth) and rub it in. If you are using a spray sunscreen, keep the bottle close to the skin when you spray. “With the spray bottles, it’s a little harder to tell if you’ve missed a spot,” Dr. McKenzie says. “Be sure to still rub it in and use enough sunscreen.” Don’t spray it in the wind – you want to make sure it’s getting onto your body.

After sun

Is there anything we can do to feel better or minimize a sunburn’s effects? Dr. McKenzie says try a mild cortisone cream, available over-the-counter, to reduce the inflammation. But, most importantly, try to avoid the burn by using sunscreen and following the other tips above.

(This post was reviewed and updated April 28, 2023)

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