"Throughout our lives, sun protection is the key to healthy, youthful-looking skin".
This is a quote from a doctor and scientist that I know. And I believe it with all of my heart and soul. Sun protection is very near and dear to my heart. Both my father and grandmother are skin cancer survivors. Obviously, they did not have the very bad and deadly kind but to me that is irrelevant. The threat is there. It is what it is.
I must confess several things! I have fair skin. I have had some severe sunburns in the past (including one or two that produced blisters--OUCH!! I still remember that sunburn). I did not always use sunscreen (obviously!). And I frequented a Tanning Salon for about 2 years when I was in college. In fact, one of those year I actually worked there and got FREE tanning! Do you know what that means? Yep, you guessed it! At one point, I was tanning 30 minutes EVERY single day for months on end. Yes, I had a great tan...and for a fair skinned girl that was a dream come true! But over time I could see the damage that I was doing. Thankfully, I graduated and then couldn't afford tanning when I moved back home to the big city and got a "real" job.
Since then, I have been using a sunscreen. In fact, I use a product on my face every day that has an SPF 25 in it. Even in the winter. What most people do not know or ignore is that sun damage can and does occur on a daily basis regardless of weather conditions. Even on cloudy days.
The Skin Cancer Foundation website says this:
Since its inception in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen. Sunscreen alone is not enough, however. Read our full list of skin cancer prevention tips.I recently went to the doctor for a physical and he did perform a skin exam (which I don't remember him or any doctor doing before). And he told me what to look for as well. When I was in Esthetics school, my instructor not only encouraged us to get a yearly skin exam, but to encourage our clients to as well. It may sound trivial but I promise you it is NOT! While fair skin people would seem to be the obvious high risk group EVERYONE is at risk if they do not follow sun protection guidelines.
•Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
•Do not burn.
•Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
•Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
•Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
•Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
•Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
•Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
•See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.
As far as sunscreens are concerned you may be wondering "What should you use?" I would suggest products that are recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. You can view a complete list of the products that they recommend and how they were chosen.
But here is a brief explanation with regards to ingredients.
Many of the sunscreens available in the US today combine several different active chemical sunscreen ingredients in order to provide broad-spectrum protection. Usually, at least three active ingredients are called for. These generally include PABA derivatives, salicylates, and/or cinnamates (octylmethoxycinnamate and cinoxate) for UVB absorption; benzophenones (such as oxybenzone and sulisobenzone) for shorter-wavelength UVA protection; and avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule (MexorylTM), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide for the remaining UVA spectrum.
So, go out and enjoy every new day but use good judgement and protect yourself!
