Sun Protection 101

Safety tips and prevention, plus how to get a free skin screening

From Lifeminute team

"Skin cancer is the #1 cancer," says dermatologist Valerie Callender. So how do you protect yourself while still enjoying the summer sun? The doctor and president of the Women's Dermatologic Society shares sun safety tips for protection and prevention against the sun's dangerous rays.

"65% of people of color feel that they are not at risk for developing skin cancer and, 62 percent of African-American adult respondents have never worn sunscreen," says the doctor, "So it's very important, as a dermatologist, that we educate the skin of color population." Here are her best tips...

Wear the Right Sunscreen

"It's very important [that] we know about sunscreen in general," says Dr. Callender. Make sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum and covers UVA and UVB. "There are so many different formulations, so you need to find one that feels good to your skin, doesn't leave a chalky appearance [and] goes on smooth under your makeup so you get in the habit of wearing it every single day," she says.

Know How to Apply

"It's important to realize that there have been recent clinical studies that look at the daily use of sunscreens and found not only does it help decrease and fight skin cancer, but also keeps your skin even toned," says the dermatologist. So make sure to put on your sunscreen every day. When outdoors, apply sunscreen every two hours, and if you know you are going to be outside for long periods of time, apply it 15-20 minutes before going out. For more information on sunscreen and how to apply it, check out Laroche-posay.us.

Put on More than Just Sunscreen

Sun-protective clothing is a great option. "You can use both," Dr. Callender says, "Wear sunscreen as well as the sun-protective clothing. Now sun clothing lines come in different colors, in materials that offer UV protection of SPF 50 and higher. The clothing options include sleeves that protect the arms, extending down to the hands. There are also lines for children and babies. Also don't forget a hat or sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes. Visit eclipseglove.com for more on sun-protective clothing.

Be Proactive

In addition to applying sunscreen every day, examine yourself at home for new and suspicious moles. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, make sure to see a dermatologist. The Women's Dermatologic Society, in conjunction and partnership with La Roche Posay, have developed two programs: The Play Safe in the Sun Program and The Save Our Skin Program. "These two programs have come together to offer free skincare screenings around the country, and these are at various sporting events, as well as breast cancer walkathons. "We're out there," says the doctor, "...Dermatologists doing free skin cancer screenings, passing out information on sunscreen, as well as referring any patient we examine that has a suspicious mole or something that may be precancerous to a dermatologist." You can find out about some of these skin cancer screenings in your area at womensderm.org.

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